Do you have a spirituality practice? Is it a regular part of your daily life? Why would we want to make spirituality part of our lives, and why is it a holistic aging practice? These questions we should be asking ourselves as we age. In particular, because we have the time in retirement years to observe, contemplate, and prioritize positive, healthy aging habits.
A spiritual practice is one of the five best holistic aging practices because of its health benefits. In our last Silver Chat, we discussed the importance of living a purposeful life. Having a daily spiritual practice should be part of that.
There are many health benefits to adopting a spiritual practice. There is no denying the advantages. There is a myriad of research that confirms that spirituality has a positive effect on mental well-being and physical wellness. Here are some examples:
“Research has shown that religion, spirituality and/or belief are intertwined with health, well-being, and quality of life, particularly with regards to how people deal with ill-health and other challenges they might face.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6319229/)
“Research has shown that religion and spirituality can help people cope with the effects of everyday stress. One study found that everyday spiritual experiences helped older adults better cope with negative feelings, and enhanced positive feelings”. Whitehead BR, Bergeman CS. Coping with daily stress: Differential role of spiritual experience on daily positive and negative affect. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2012;67(4):456-459. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbr136
“McArthur Research Network on Successful Aging, brought about an interest in positive aging. Spirituality and religious participation are highly correlated with positive successful aging, as much as diet, exercise, mental stimulation, self-efficacy, and social connectedness, stimulating an interest in the understanding of why spirituality has such positive effects on the future quality of life and end of life.”
But what is a spiritual practice? It is having a connection with something greater than ourselves. It’s activities that deepen our understanding between us and the world. Spirituality provides a sense of inner peace, giving clarity to our minds and calmness to our emotions and thoughts.
A daily practice may include:
-Meditation
-Prayer
-Yoga
-Chanting
-Breathwork
-Text study
-Retreats
-Prayer or meditation groups
-Nature
-Volunteering
Whether a spiritual practice is related to a religion or a higher power, the experience is individual, but the themes are universal. Regardless of the source, compassion, gratitude, altruism, love, wisdom, and truth are universal elements found in all practices. When we commit ourselves to a daily spiritual practice it adds serenity, a connection with others, and meaning to our lives. With it comes health benefits both mentally and physically.
It is important to take the time to reflect on our habits, see where we are out of balance, and make healthy, holistic choices to correct it. Many of us focus our attention on health and wellness, lifestyle, love, or mental well-being and we neglect spirituality. Take the time to see what daily practice might fit your lifestyle and fulfill your spiritual needs. Find one that resonates with your beliefs and attitudes. If you follow a religion, explore your community for spiritual training, classes, or groups. Your commitment is personal and the rewards are immense.
A spiritual practice is about finding time to calm our emotions and slow our racing thoughts. It is a way to bring focus to something other than ourselves and our attention on soothing our racing mind. It is part of a holistic aging practice. Silver Chats is here to help. Every week we highlight one of the five best holistic aging practices, and we offer information and suggestions on how to achieve them. Please join us for all our chats. Discover the endless possibilities of aging.