Proven Tools to Feel Stronger and More Hopeful
"Praying, meditating or just connecting with your deepest self can enrich your life."
Tip #8
I was thrilled to see that 50% of the 10 Tools to Live Your Life Well program sponsored by the Mental Health America organization are benefits that we gain from participating in courses and workshops that focus on expanding soul consciousness. I was immediately drawn to Tip #8, Take Care of Your Spirit. With a background in science and health care, I am always looking for “evidence” that confirms the experiential benefits of my work with Spirit. And there it was: “Whatever you focus on spirituality offers many possible benefits, including better mood, less anxiety and depression – and even fewer aches and illnesses.” Going future, the site reaffirmed the connection between spirituality and health, stating that “spirituality cuts the stress that so often triggers disease.”
Spiritual programs teaching relaxation to more effectively communicate with guidance, spirit guides, angels, or reach one’s inner Self, have expanded benefits. The relaxation techniques give tools to interrupt the stress-illness cycle that is so pervasive in our twenty-first century society. Health benefits of mediation, yoga and related modalities are documented and touted by proponents of these practices, but still the majority of US citizens do not regularly practice nor sustain a practice that enables their relaxation and deeper connection to their Divine Self. What may be missing in sharing these programs is the connection to spirituality in a way that supports one’s current beliefs and practices.
Since reading about Take Care of Your Spirit, I’ve emphasized the value of learning and practicing relaxing for participants in programs I lead and for co-workers in the healthcare setting where I work. In addition to saying “you can’t spiritually cleanse too much” and being relaxed opens up one’s intuitive gifts, I repeatedly weave in the value of relaxing as a proven way to interrupt the stress – illness cycle of our modern lifestyles. To date, this has been a helpful approach. 100% of participants mention they are amazed at how quickly they feel relaxed and centered, and they are thrilled to have a technique to take into their daily lives.
When our programs offer simple approaches, yet powerful and meaningful content with self-healing techniques and ways of connecting with our deepest Self, people feel stronger and more hopeful. Read about the other tools to help you “relax, grow and flourish” at www.liveyourlifewell.org.
(Expanded version of this article featured in Aquarius-Atlanta, vol. 17, No. 7, December 2009, pg5)