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Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed with life? Asking yourself: what’s the point? Why am I even doing this? It seems safe to assume that we have all once felt as though we lacked purpose. Simply put, there are days we feel overwhelmed…
Anyone moderately health conscious knows that holistic well-being is acquired through more than good nutrition and exercise. For optimal global health, all aspects of a person should be taken into account; the physical, the mental, the emotional and the spiritual. The first three are commonly addressed and fairly well explored in modern medicine and psychology, whereas spirituality may appear taboo and difficult to grasp. It’s an intimidating concept, I know. Nonetheless, it triggered my interest. What is spirituality? What is the term’s significance?
During the holiday break of 2010, I had the opportunity to go on a three week backpacking adventure along the west coast of Chile. The simplicity of the trip; not being on a very restricted schedule, eating whatever we would find on the road, setting camp when convenient (including right on the beach sometimes) allowed me to fully take in the beauty of breathtaking sceneries and to ponder on existential questions. Upon my return, my refreshed self came across a book, The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle1. Tolle is a contemporary spiritual teacher, with no religious affiliation. The book couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life, given that it reinforced this new-found outlook on life from my trip and truly brought new light on the power of spiritual presence. Over time, I have made an effort to bring up the topic in everyday conversation with friends, acquaintances and professionals, in order to gain a broader perspective and a variety of opinions on the matter. I also read four more books on the subject and attended many conferences. I found that, regardless of their religious orientation, whether they were polytheist, monotheist or atheist, or that they chose to identify with a religion or not, most people knew how to define their perception of spirituality.
Think of your soul as your most inner self, your essence. It is your spiritual centre. Your soul never ages. As, Thierry Janssen, MD, puts it2, your soul is your capacity to love, to contemplate, to savour, to give. To be spiritual, is to form a bridge inwards and have access to your soul, it’s a path to introspection and self discovery. “Spirituality exists wherever we struggle with the issues of how our lives fit into the greater scheme of things. We also become spiritual when we become moved by values such as beauty, love, or creativity that seem to reveal a meaning or power beyond our visible world. An idea or practice is “spiritual” when it reveals our personal desire to establish a felt-relationship with the deepest meanings or powers governing life.”3
Finding your spirituality
Fortunately, there are many ways to express your spirituality and the idea is to find the path that works for you. Of course, you could start by asking yourself fundamental questions, like “What am I doing on this earth?”. To answer this question is to find your place. Its okay not to have all the answers but to be in touch with your personal morals and values will surely help to find purpose and establish a solid foundation. Too many people tend to look outwards to find the answers. Our family, our friends, the media are all bombarding us daily with what “should be” but the driving force will only come from within yourself. It is key to realise that you are not alone because you will always have yourself to rely on.
Love yourself. Stop thinking about what you could be tomorrow or what you were yesterday and devote 100% of your current attention to feel the love flow through every fibre of your being as you are reading this article. Stop living at the surface of yourself and get in touch with the essential. Just be! Be present and surrender to what is. Tolle defines presence as a “means to inhabit your body fully. To always have some of your attention to the inner energy field in your body”. It’s important not to give 100% of your attention to the external world and your mind. Keep some for within. Be authentic. Try to rid yourself of any masks or facades. Be mindful of your surroundings and of others, and let go of your judgements. Be open-minded and accept other people’s views, beliefs and actions. Don’t be hungry for mistakes, failures and weaknesses in others. Everyone, at one point or another will have to face them. Listen to your internal dialogue and try to see if you can find any patterns.
Spirituality is irreligious, but a preamble essential to faith. Try to integrate things to your routine that bring you a peace of mind. If you find a calling to a certain religion, then classic approaches, such as attending a church, temple or mosque service, praying, and reading religious books might help you draw life lessons and reinforce your sense of purpose. Belonging to a faith-based community could even give you access to a support network favorable for exchange. If you choose not to be aligned with a religion, other activities, like volunteering, spending time in nature’s countless beauties, meditation or even participating in a yoga or Tai Chi workout might provide you with a silent mind. On the mat, you will often hear your instructor asking you to focus your attention entirely on your breath. When you breathe, follow the flow of your inhalation from your nose, to your abdomen, all the way to your extremities… When your attention is focused on your breath, you are in the now.
As students, we have pressure to perform. When you are feeling overwhelmed, consider taking study breaks to empty your mind, recollect with the present and to take control of your thoughts and refresh your creativity. Practice thinking with your whole body and take a moment to focus your attention on the life flux circulating through your body; consciously wander around, feeling the energy in your hands, your chest, your nose, your toes. Also keep in mind that the way you start and end your day are crucial in your wellbeing. Try to incorporate your favorite rituals at those times. Take a second to be thankful for something that happened in your day. Do not ask for anything, instead, try to realize that you already have everything at hand. I have once met a wise girl who, every morning, chooses a different word to motivate her actions and thought process. That word becomes her daily mantra.
How does any of this impact your health? More and more professionals are saying that when the soul is neglected, anxiety, obsession, dependencies and loss of meaning to life are more likely to occur5. Also, the rituals that help you relax such as prayer, meditation, chants, yoga or tai-chi all help reduce tension, lower blood pressure and may even help improve your immune situations4. In fact, Tolle also argues that meditation or other spiritual practices can have powerful self-healing properties and may play a great role in boosting your immune system.
The beauty of spirituality is that it is your own personal perception of life. Make it your own and find what works for you. Explore your options! It reflects your authenticity. The bottom line is: whatever your beliefs are, the key is to believe in something! Have trust that everything you need will come to you if you find purpose in your life. Find the guiding principles that will motivate your actions and bring meaning and direction to your life. By being mindful of your inner essence you will feel wholesome and ready to take on what life has in store for you. Go ahead, medicate your soul and make everything you do, a spiritual experience.
For further reading and references:
1- Tolle, Eckhart. The power of now: a guide to spiritual enlightenment. Novato, Calif.: New World Library, 1999
2- Janssen, Thierry. Le travail d’une Vie. Germany : Marabout PSY, 2008.
3- Fuller, Robert C. Spiritual, But Not Religious. Beliefnet.com. Retrieved on : 2012-10-27
4- Greene, Bob. “Faith: Powerful Medicine? | The Best Life Blog: Fitness, Weight-Loss and Health Advice from Bob Greene and His Best Life Experts.” http://members.thebestlife.com/blog/faith-powerful-medicine/ Retrieved on : 2012-10-28
5- Montbourquette, Jean. Medecin de l’ame. Ottawa: Novalis, 2008
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