| Stress & Spirituality - How Spirituality | | | | PERSPECTIVE |
| Affects Stress Levels | | | | In the thousand and one things we all have to do |
| Take a moment to close your eyes and think | | | | to keep up with the demands work, study, family, |
| about what a 'spiritual' person looks like. Whether | | | | and friends; problems that would seem fairly |
| you see them as sitting lotus-style in saffron | | | | minor if they attacked us one-by-one can seem |
| robes or speaking emphatically from a pulpit, I'd | | | | unbearably huge. At such times, believing in |
| bet one thing you won't see them as is 'stressed'. | | | | something bigger than ourselves (or bigger than |
| Relaxed... serene... beatific. These are all adjectives | | | | the day-to-day self who has to deal with all of |
| we associate with the super-spiritual. But | | | | these problems) can sometimes help to shrink our |
| stressed? Kind of defeats the purpose of all that | | | | stressors back down to something approaching a |
| spirituality, doesn't it? | | | | manageable size. |
| I'm going to take a moment here to make the | | | | MEANING |
| all-important distinction between religion and | | | | It's a hard thing to accept when we're going |
| spirituality. Different people have different | | | | through tough periods, but it's not the things that |
| definitions of each, but for the purposes of this | | | | happen to us that upset us. What upsets us is the |
| article, it's important to be clear about what I | | | | meanings we give those events. For example, if |
| mean by each term. A religion is a codified set of | | | | I've just failed a job interview, it's not actually |
| beliefs and practices shared by adherents. | | | | failing the interview that's upset me - it's all the |
| Spirituality, by contrast, is about an individual's | | | | things I've made it mean. Perhaps, in my mind, it |
| relationship with Spirit (however they might see it) | | | | means I'll never get a job, that I'm just no good |
| and their connection with their own spiritual | | | | at interviews, that I'll always be broke, or even |
| aspect. Please note that the two concepts can | | | | that I'm a useless person in all areas of my life. |
| co-exist, but that religion doesn't have to be | | | | Whatever it might be, unless I had my heart set |
| spiritual, and equally, spirituality doesn't need to be | | | | on that specific job, it's unlike to just be the |
| religious. | | | | interview results. When this happens, a sense of |
| In this article, I want to focus on spirituality, | | | | spirituality can help me to look for positive |
| rather than religion. If you do follow an organised | | | | meanings in seemingly negative events - enabling |
| religion, feel free to apply the information to your | | | | me to ask what I can learn, or how I can grow |
| own spiritual path. If not, I invite you to keep in | | | | stronger, instead of asking why it's always me |
| mind the difference between religion and | | | | that gets dumped on. |
| spirituality as you read. This is because there's a | | | | SPACE & STILLNESS |
| great deal of evidence that a healthy spiritual | | | | Something most spiritual systems emphasise is |
| belief system can both help lessen the impact | | | | the need for time spent by ourselves in quiet and |
| some of our stressors have on us, and deal with | | | | stillness. In this still space, our minds - weary of |
| the consequences of our stress responses. The | | | | thoughts rushing around at breakneck speed - can |
| first half of this article covers some of the | | | | find rest. The time alone can be spent meditating, |
| suggested reasons for this, while the second | | | | praying, or just listening and appreciating what is |
| (which will appear in the next issue of Optimum | | | | there around and within us in that given moment. |
| Stress News) explores how we can use this link | | | | The form doesn't matter - whatever is right for |
| to help with our stress management. | | | | you is what's right for you. It's the peace and |
| SUPPORT NETWORKS | | | | respite we're accessing - the simple 'time out' that |
| Most stressors seem bigger and more difficult to | | | | makes this so helpful for stress management. |
| deal with if we're feeling isolated and as though | | | | These are just four of the possible suggested |
| we're dealing with them alone. Knowing that we | | | | ways that developing a personal spirituality can |
| belong to and can connect with a group of people | | | | help in keeping our stress at optimum levels. In |
| who care, and who can offer solace, strength and | | | | Part 2, we'll look at how we can start to develop |
| possibly even solutions, can do much to offset | | | | the kind of spirituality that's true to our own |
| that feeling. And interestingly enough, that sense | | | | individual values, and how to make use of it as a |
| of belonging doesn't necessarily have to be to a | | | | tool for managing stress. If you have any |
| group of people. If we see the natural world as | | | | questions or comments on the first half of the |
| something we can interact with, or Spirit or our | | | | article, please don't hesitate to contact me. |
| Higher Selves as beings with whom we can talk, | | | | Otherwise, until the next issue, may every day |
| then they can become part of our support just | | | | bring you closer to your optimum life. |
| as much as actual people could. | | | | |