By Dr Attia Anwar
“He who knows himself is truly happy” —Imam Ghazali
In this article, I will discuss the importance of faith for our well-being. Decades of research now support the positive relationship of religion or spirituality with physical health, mental health, disease reduction, and longevity. There are times in life when how organized you are, how much you take care of yourself, and how kind you are to other people, you suffer, and you have serious setbacks. Although you know that everything is temporary in this world, you will get out of this time. If you have some faith you will generally feel better. While this importance of faith is recognized by medical practitioners, they find it challenging to integrate it into holistic patient-centered care.
Maybe you have a religious upbringing or you think that spirituality is a new gimmick used by wellness influencers. Everybody thinks about whether is there something more to life. Do we really have a purpose of living here? Are there bigger questions about existence valid? And everybody craves for a deeper connection. This connection can be with the inner you, to others, and the world in general. According to medical research, this connection can play an important role in your mind and body. The dimension of life which is beyond experience, on a physical level. These can be religious cultural beliefs and practices surrounding a higher being. They are a source of comfort and relief for people. Research suggests they have real benefits. These include buffering stress and anxiety. It brings a strong social support system. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, empathy, and gratitude bring some meaning to your life.
Moreover, we all know that we are not here permanently on planet Earth. Sooner or later we have to go from here to the other side. Faith also helps to overcome the nothingness of our life. If we take religion from mere adherence to rules to the inward mystery of encounter with god. Our life will be transformed and that will be the step in pursuit of happiness. That inner journey will make it easy to do other things that are mentioned for wellbeing. Al-Ghazali writes that unhappiness is created by enslavement to desire and belief. It means that when we fulfill our own desires governed by instinct or appetite, and after doing all this we feel emptiness that something is missing. Our life is not authentic. Our life needs some sort of correction. If we connect ourselves to a source, we can have a meaningful life of self-transcendence. The essence of oneself should be like a polished mirror. That will reveal actual us and that is usually our divine nature. The nature with which we come into this world. Nature is corrupted by the world, our surroundings, and people. We need divine help for this polishing.
People who believe in higher force are less likely to be devastated by trivial things. The path toward enlightenment requires certain beliefs. They help in finding purpose and self-awakening. Religious scholar David O. McKey said, “The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul”. So if we settle these battles and resolve our inward conflicts, we will have a sense of peace. Good things like promoting welfare for other people, thinking cooperatively, and feeling happy for the success of other people will naturally come to us. Spiritual renewal also takes an investment of our time but it is worth it. I am quoting great leader Martin Luther “I have to do so much today that I have to spend another hour on my knees”. So extra prayer or extra meditation helps us to go through the day. Someone asked a Zen master. “Why are you always at peace in this all chaotic life”? He answered, “I never leave the place of my meditation”. He did his meditation early in the morning and carried the peace of those moments throughout the day.
Our faith and our prayers help us to go through tough times and good times. So we do not elate unnecessarily when we are blessed. And setbacks do not take life away from us. We sit down and try to find the solution or accept it. We believe nothing lasts forever in this world, and we become aware of the impermanence of our lives also. We act with less fear, less greed, and more kindness. Remembering your death makes you more productive, tolerant, and kind.
Spirituality can be different for different people. For some, it is a specific religion. Some may have some other connection to a higher state or they may have a state of interconnectedness with the rest of humanity. Some experience it in every aspect of life and some feel it doing something specific. It is important to remember there are many different spiritual traditions throughout the world. Exploring the connection with divine powers can help to bring purpose and meaning to your life. It helps us to cope with difficult situations and the stress and anxiety of everyday life. It also helps to restore our hope and optimism. You feel supported by the community also if you are involved in a religious group. So there are benefits of being spiritual, religious, or connected to some divine source. It has been proven it helps to maintain your mental health. Research demonstrates that there are tangible and long-lasting benefits of involvement with a spiritual community. Dedication to god or a higher power translates into less stress, reactivity, and less fear of death.
A few steps that can put you on this path of inner journey are first paying attention to your feelings, opening your heart to others, showing empathy, and helping others. Meditation, practicing gratitude, and mindfulness are also part of spirituality. Finding meaning to connect with your own sense of spirituality, however you feel is a powerful way to boost your well-being.
The author, Dr. Attia Anwar, is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GPs UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
Disclaimer, these articles are meant to increase general awareness about health and wellbeing. they are not substitute for individual medical consultation.
