Practice Spirituality in All Areas of Your Life

A well-rounded, successful life involves balancing the areas of your focus, such as personal goals, family, work, community, and recreation. When you want to feel control over your day and confident that you’re making progress on your goals, the first step is to create balance between the areas of your life.

Benefits in Your Personal Life

How can increasing your spirituality improver your personal life? Sadly, today many Americans claim not to believe in God at all, yet when they face trials and hard time, 90% of Americans report relying on prayer. Whether you consider yourself to be religious or not, there are many benefits to practicing spirituality. These benefits include living a longer life, increased happiness, higher levels of resilience, and improved physical health. Imagine what these could mean for you in quiet moments. Enjoy these benefits by spending time each day in prayer or meditation and by seeking answers to life’s meaningful questions.

Benefits for the Strength of Your Family

Can you incorporate spiritual habits into your family life? Will those habits really strengthen your family? Consider several things you can do with your spouse, children, parents, or siblings. For example, some people enjoy spiritual experiences as they engage with nature, work in the garden, prepare food for loved ones, or enjoy music together. Discussions on shared religious beliefs can also strengthen bonds between family members. You can make sure your family benefits from increased spirituality by making goals together and designating specific times during the week to spend on religious topics or focused family time.

Benefits of Spirituality in the Workplace

Maybe some of the most surprising benefits to living a spiritual life are those you can experience at work. The habits and practices you develop as part of your spirituality provide several benefits at work:

•          You’ll have clarity when days are overwhelming and demanding.
•          Your awareness of personal goals and external circumstances is increased.
•          Your mood is lifted and you’re more pleasant to be around.
•          You’ll have steadiness of purpose.
•          You’ll be able to remain calm when things get out of control.
•          You’ll have a broader perspective that positively affects your interactions with coworkers.

In fact, religion is finding positive recognition in the workplace. One study showed that employees who felt safe expressing their religious beliefs had better working relationships and were more engaged. (It’s important to note that employees had the freedom to express their own beliefs, not a compulsion to practice a specific religion.) Some businesses have gone so far as to set up space for practicing spirituality at work, such as meditation rooms. According to one author of a study conducted for the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the idea is that employees can be their “full selves” at work.

If you don’t have a private place to pray, you can carry your religious beliefs with you. You can begin your workday with prayer and a few minutes of meditation, whether you arrive early to do this at your desk or spend a few minutes in your car. You might also create a positive, spiritual place at your desk or just where you hang your coat. If you can’t take anything overtly religious to work, you might consider a picture of a forest or peaceful lake. You could take a plant or set a positive mantra on your computer.  

Benefits in the Community and in Social Settings

Of course, your interactions with friends and acquaintances have an impact on your life whether you’re religious or not. However, adherence to religious tenets can improve your ability to get along with others. Research has shown that people who practice spirituality are gracious, have a sense of vitality, show compassion to others, and take time to embrace positive life experiences. As these individuals focus on their own values, they also tend to treat others well and form long-lasting relationships. Learn more from The Way International.

One of the best ways religion can strengthen your relationships with others is focusing on owning and controlling your own feelings and actions. As a member of just about any religion, you’ve probably been taught some behaviors, such as forgiveness and meekness. Put those into practice by planning how you’ll deal positively with the annoying coworker who grabs your things or how you’ll treat a peer with compassion. Remain committed to your ideals, acknowledge your feelings, and control your actions.

Benefits of Spirituality on Your Free Time

Is it possible for your religious practice to improve your recreation time? Too often, people associate being spiritual with those few hours spent in church. However, there are many ways for your beliefs to help you enjoy evenings, weekends, and vacations. Begin by recognizing the beauty and blessings you enjoy. Next, focus on being cheerful; find reasons to laugh and sing. Time spent in nature or eating with friends who accept your religion are great ways to find rejuvenation.

It’s time to embrace your religious self and make improvements in your life. Enjoy these tips for using spirituality to enhance each area of your day.