Having a higher level of spirituality helps lessen depression in stroke survivors and their caregivers and boosts their quality of life, according to new research. The study included data from 223 caregiver-stroke survivor pairs in Italy who completed questionnaires measuring spirituality, depression and quality of life between 2016 and 2018. Survivors who scored above average… Continue reading Spirituality Eases Depression for Some Stroke Patients
Category: Spiritual Health
Treating Illness at its Root: The Healing Power of Earthing
The simple fix behind a cure for fatigue, insomnia, and more. If you dig back far, far into your brain—a la elementary school and the awkward joys of middle school—you might remember the first time you learned that everything is made of something called matter. And within this matter are tiny, swirling, electrically-charged particles called… Continue reading Treating Illness at its Root: The Healing Power of Earthing
Everything You Need to Know About the Super Blue Blood Moon Around the Corner
Like many of us, the moon didn’t exactly start off 2018 with a bang. Instead, as the clock struck midnight and revelers around the world celebrated, the moon was in ‘waxing gibbous,’ a phase that is just about as mediocre as it sounds—somewhere between a new moon and a full moon. It’s the astronomical equivalent… Continue reading Everything You Need to Know About the Super Blue Blood Moon Around the Corner
A Technique to Tap into Your Creative Muscle
Imagination is the difference between the problems plaguing our every day and the future solutions to those issues. Imagination is step one for answers that work. Imagine that you could work on an app that better informs financial decisions to help users get out of debt; imagine working with technology that helps patients and doctors… Continue reading A Technique to Tap into Your Creative Muscle
Thrive! 7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Every Day
It’s still pretty early into 2016, and already only 8% of those who made New Year resolutions are still on track. We can have the best intentions in the world, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged by multiple demands when we get back to the daily grind. As an executive coach and transformational… Continue reading Thrive! 7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Every Day
Empowering Gratitude in an Imperfect World
At most family gatherings, there is a formal or informal time for reflecting on what we are grateful for. Almost invariably a prominent object of that gratefulness is family, in its many varied forms. What a lovely tradition. As 2016 begins, I AM grateful for my family – well, in my case, that should be… Continue reading Empowering Gratitude in an Imperfect World
How Rearranging Your Living Room Can Make You Feel Younger
What we choose to have in our space is a reflection of who we are on the inside—our emotional state. It is wise to choose thoughtfully, but how can arranging items in your home and office affect your health, well-being, and ability to feel younger? Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of manifestation and… Continue reading How Rearranging Your Living Room Can Make You Feel Younger
Retirement Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely: 9 Great Ways to Stay Connected
Retirement can be a difficult time as you adjust to a new life away from the 9-to-5 grind you’re used to. And if you’re not careful, retirement can become an extremely lonely time, especially if your social life was once wrapped up with your work life. Thankfully, retirees can find companionship in a variety of… Continue reading Retirement Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely: 9 Great Ways to Stay Connected
A Grateful Heart Is a Healthier Heart
Recognizing and giving thanks for the positive aspects of life can result in improved mental, and ultimately physical, health in patients with asymptomatic heart failure, according to research published in the journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice in April 2015 by the American Psychological Association. A release from the association quotes lead author Paul J. Mills,… Continue reading A Grateful Heart Is a Healthier Heart
Are You an Automaton?
Many of us seem to be closeted seekers of spiritual enlightenment. But most of us, apparently, aren’t able or willing to admit that we’re inclined toward such seeking, says Jim Starr, a computer programmer, hospice volunteer, and “Jersey Yogi.” While there are a number of anecdotal examples any of us can point to in order… Continue reading Are You an Automaton?
What’s Your Message?
March is Spiritual Awareness month, a time to gather the holiness within us and grow it. We are all connected by a common thread of spirit and humanity that runs through our souls. We each hold a piece of the big puzzle of life, and all of us are needed to complete the picture. God… Continue reading What’s Your Message?
When The Bank Account Is Full But The Soul Is Lacking
It’s second nature for many people to toil endlessly to achieve what the world at large considers a successful life.Yet success often is often fleeting and sometimes requires us to make decisions that aren’t in our best interests, says Frank P. Daversa, author of the book “Spirituality in the 21st Century.” “How many times has… Continue reading When The Bank Account Is Full But The Soul Is Lacking
The Benefits of Meditation and Waking Up
Waking Up is a daily morning meditation that helps you tap into your inner source of strength and wisdom. These quiet minutes establish your intention to be present and mindful throughout the day. This morning meditation helps to calm, center, and empower you as you establish a peaceful state of mind. It enables you to… Continue reading The Benefits of Meditation and Waking Up
Nature, Art & Religion Boost Immune System
Taking in such spine-tingling wonders as the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Schubert’s “Ave Maria” may give a boost to the body’s defense system, according to research done at the University of California, Berkeley and published in January 2015 in the journal Emotion. A release from the university explains that the researchers have linked… Continue reading Nature, Art & Religion Boost Immune System
Can Meditation Cure Cravings for Painkillers?
People who are addicted to prescription painkillers can reduce cravings by learning to enjoy other parts of their life, according to a new study. The research, published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, was conducted by Eric L. Garland, associate professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work. He and his colleagues looked… Continue reading Can Meditation Cure Cravings for Painkillers?
Prayer Eases Anxiety for Some, But Not All
For many people with anxiety-related disorders, prayer doesn’t ease the symptoms. That’s the finding of research done at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. What seems to matter is the type of attachment a person feels toward God. According to the Baylor study, those who prayed to a loving and supportive God whom they thought would be there to comfort and protect them in times of need were less likely to show symptoms of anxiety-related disorders such as irrational worry, fear, self-consciousness, dread in social situations, and obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Religious Music Lifts Our Spirits as We Age
If you need an emotional lift, try listening to hymns. Better yet, choose gospel music. A team of researchers from four top universities reports that listening to religious music is associated with a decrease in anxiety about death and increases in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and sense of control over our lives as we age. In particular, listening to gospel music is linked to reducing anxiety about death and an increase in sense of control.
Religion + Spirituality = Healthier Aging
Religion and spirituality have distinct but complementary influences on health as we age, according to research done at Oregon State University and published in March 2014 in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
A release from OSU quotes gerontology professor Carolyn Aldwin, director of OSU’s Center for Healthy Aging Research, as saying, “Religion helps regulate behavior and health habits, while spirituality regulates your emotions, how you feel.”