Spirituality is a broad concept that encompasses a sense of connection with something greater than ourselves and often involves a search for meaning in life. It is a universal human experience, and how we express our spirituality is determined by our personal, family, and cultural experiences. Some people express their spirituality in a religious way, while others may find it through meditation, prayer, or other activities. No matter how you choose to express your spirituality, research has shown that those who are more religious or spiritual and use their spirituality to meet life's challenges experience many health and well-being benefits.
To get the most out of your spiritual journey, it's important to be open to the signs of the universe and start each day with meditation, even if only for a minute. People can describe a spiritual experience as sacred or transcendent or simply as a deep sense of vivacity and interconnectedness. The key to the power of prayer is to feel deeply grateful. When your gratitude is genuine, you establish the power of faith without the clouding of doubt appearing.
In fact, this step of alignment of gratitude may be the final piece needed to integrate all these spiritual experiences into a sudden epiphany, one that feels like a total embodiment of the divine presence within us. Listening to other people's experiences and making them feel meaningful to you can help you decide what spirituality means to you. Some may find that their spiritual life is intimately linked to their association with a church, temple, mosque or synagogue. Others may find comfort in their religious or spiritual views through individual practices and participation in the rituals of their faith community. It's important to be careful not to let spiritual ideals lead you to traps such as dogmatism or a reason to ignore the needs of others. If you feel overwhelmed or confronted by spirituality, don't be afraid to discuss it with a trusted family member, friend, teacher, or religious leader. The Earl E Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing offers a wealth of workshops, classes, guided meditation sessions and mindfulness retreats that can help you explore your spirituality.
Every person wiser than me who has said something hard that I needed to hear has improved my spiritual life. Spirituality can enrich your life and lead to a number of benefits. It can provide comfort and strength in difficult times and serve as a source of stress relief for many people. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how you want to express and experience spirituality in your life.
