Spirituality Can Benefit Your Mental and Physical Health.

Happy Friday All!

I hope you all have something splendid planned for this weekend! It looks like Spring has *finally* Sprung around here, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, as we have definitely had snow later than late April before.

I came across this wonderful article that talks about how people who are on a spiritual path (any spiritual path, it doesnt matter which one) show some clear health benefits! I thought this was a must read for those of you out there! Read the article through, and I will see you on the other side …..

—-begin article—-

Spirituality Can Benefit Your Mental and Physical Health

By Elizabeth Scott, M.S.

While people use many different religions and paths to find God,
research has shown that those who are more religious or spiritual, and
use their spirituality to cope with life, experience many benefits to
their health and well-being. For many, this news would come as no
surprise; spirituality and religious activity have been a source of
comfort and relief from stress
for multitudes of people. In fact, according to a study from the
University of Florida in Gainesville and Wayne State University in
Detroit, older adults use prayer more than any other alternative
therapy for health; 96% of study participants use prayer specifically
to cope with stress. Here are just a few more of the many positive
findings about spirituality and its influence on physical and mental
health:

• Canadian college students who are involved with campus ministries visited the doctor less, scored higher on tests of psychological well-being, and coped with stress more effectively.
• Older women are more grateful to God than older men, and they receive greater stress-buffering health effects due to this gratitude.
• Those with an intrinsic religious orientation, regardless of gender, exhibited less physiological reactivity toward stress than those with an extrinsic religious orientation. They were also less afraid of death and had greater feelings of well-being.
  (Those who were intrinsically oriented dedicated their lives to God or
  a ‘higher power,’ while the extrinsically oriented ones used religion
  for external ends like making friends or increasing community social
  standing.)
• Prayer works for young and old alike. Prayer and spirituality have been linked to:
  • Better health
  • Less hypertension
  • Less stress, even during difficult times
  • More positive feelings
  • Less depression
  • Greater psychological well-being
  • Superior ability to handle stress

  Whether this information inspires you to rediscover a forgotten
  spiritual path, reinforces your commitment to an already
  well-established one, or simply provides interesting food for thought,
  this is just a sample of all the encouraging research that’s been done
  on the topic.

  Spirituality is personal, and everyone’s spiritual path may be unique. However, some spiritual stress relief strategies have been helpful to many, regardless of faith.

—-end article—-

Imagine that 😉 Spirituality can help us feel healthier and be healthier! No specific path  is right for everyone, whether you choose Voodoo or any other path, the fact that you are on a path that fits well with your beliefs is what matters.

Near the end of the article it mentions about spiritual stress relief strategies. Those of you feeling stressed and would like some relief, be sure to write your caseworker. We are just full of great ideas!  Also, be sure to stop over at Sister Candelaria's blog about Spiritual Boot Camp!   for lots of great ideas and exercises as well.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Light and Love
Sister Bridget