Spirituality & health

To be well usually requires attention to 4 core areas of being:

                BODY……..MIND……….SPIRIT………..SHADOW

To give attention to the BODY will include seeking to eat and drink healthily. Fresh nutritious food including plenty of fruit and veg. Be moderate with alcohol – ideally no more than 1-2 small drinks per day. It also requires taking regular physical exercise – for example 30mins most days. These things will affect not only the body but all areas of being.

To give attention to the MIND is to discover how thinking affects all of our being. Thinking can often be distorted, exaggerated, negative and unhelpful. Our mind can be helped by appropriate reading and study (to engage with Truth & Wisdom) but also by learning how to still the mind and be in the Present. The skills of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be valuable for most people [seelivinglifetothefull.com]. Learning relaxation is also invaluable. See alsopositiverewards.co.uk

To give attention to SPIRIT is to be connected to and living from the Deepest and Truest part of our being and the Source of All, which many call 'God'. This is nurtured through spiritual practice which can take various forms depending on spiritual or religious tradition.

To give attention to SHADOW: most of us have psychological material from our past that can hinder our ability to be well in this world; at various times in our lives this will need attention, especially if we are experiencing symptoms such as low mood, fear, anxiety, anger, obsessional thoughts etc. Sometimes working with shadow will require the skills of counseling or psychotherapy. It is also possible to do work individually – see livinglifetothefull.com It is possible to learn a simple process to work with shadow material that causes us disturbance.

When we are aware of someone or something that causes us discomfort (and it is helpful to reflect on this at the end of each day) then:

• FACE IT: think about who or what it is, acknowledging the thoughts and feelings that are associated with this
• TALK TO IT: the talk to the person or thing/situation, expressing what it is you wish to express.
• BE IT: imagine being that thing or that person, taking their perspective, understanding things from their point of view

  This process can help us to literally ‘process’ thoughts and feelings that may otherwise feed our depression, anxiety etc.