Spirituality is a concept that has fascinated the human mind for thousands of years. We may not know all the details of how the spiritual realm works, but through the tales that we have heard, and through the experiences we have had, many of us can safely say that being spiritual helps in reclaiming our peace. What may be spiritual to one person may not be for another, for everyone has their own meaning of what is sacred. But, the common thread here remains the presence of an understanding that there certainly are forces that are unknown to us, and that if we connect to those energies in whatever capacity, we do find meaning and purpose for life. Even if we all don’t find the value of those deeper meanings, we can definitely benefit from engaging in spiritual practices.
In recent times, psychological scientists have been trying to find the relationship between spirituality and mental wellness. In 2020, Polish researchers surveyed around 595 college students from six universities that had programs focusing on the human body or the human mind and spirit. The results of the landmark study that was published in Health Psychology found that spirituality not only gave health benefits to students, but it also improved their psychological well-being.
What is now being proven true by research is something that spiritual leaders and communities have known for centuries. That has been the reason for passing on the traditional practices to generations, some of which are practiced even today. The right ones are embraced by the people of current times who are able to find advantages in following those practices. There may be numerous ways through which we can connect to the unknown and feel the bonds with nature, but here we are going to discuss the most practical of practices that you can start doing today. If you are not already a spiritual person, these can take some time to give you peace, but once you get the hang of these and they start to become a habit, a deeper sense of calm will follow.
Meditation
Without a doubt, meditation is the buzzword of the spiritual zone. But it also is among the most misunderstood of terms. Meditation doesn’t mean that you sit in silence for long hours; rather it is a broad collection of activities that help you focus the mind. What you need to do is just focus on something; this can be your breath, a meaningful word or phrase, the sound of nature, a religious text, or the sense of a divine presence around you. The health and psychological benefits of meditation are so much that once you start to feel the difference, you want to keep coming back to it for all the right reasons.
Forgiveness
Most spiritual communities practice the concept of forgiveness. It basically means letting go of negative emotions, such as seeking revenge. The simplest thing to understand about forgiveness is that it is not for the one who hurt us, even if it feels directed toward that situation. The idea is to let yourself be free of the negative energies of that event or person. When you truly are able to forgive, moving in with a better sense of purpose becomes possible, and you are no longer tied to what hurt you in the first place.
Gratitude
When we recognize the good parts of our life, and especially the ones that are there because of some external factors that were not in our hands, we get to know the secretive presence of a higher power. This practice is one of the best and also the simplest to follow. You can literally start by just writing three good things that happened to you during the day before you sleep. If you can get to count more, even better. But, finding just three things that you have been grateful for, during the day lets you see that there is beauty in life, and not everything is a problem.
It is definitely your choice if you want to take up any one of these or all of them together. Becoming spiritual is so much more than just doing this new thing once in a while and then forgetting about it. The practices need dedication, and if you are able to give that, they will show how greatly the higher power helps you in achieving mental peace and also your dreams and desires. Yes, this is another bonus of spirituality; it not only helps in becoming a better person but also helps us in achieving our goals. How it does that, is again the domain of the unknown. But think about it, if you get what you truly want, would you want to enjoy it or find out how it happened? We believe you may want to enjoy the fruit.
