Yet another element of the whole-health model is spirituality. Though obviously related and both important in their own right, spirituality differs from religion in that it is more about the individual, often involving a practice or discipline such as prayer and meditation while religion is more about a set of beliefs and rituals for a defined group of people. A sense or experience of spirituality often gives a person a deep feeling of connectedness with the whole and with it provides meaning and purpose in day-to-day life.

An excellent way to develop in a spiritual practice is through gratitude. This can be done through creating and reciting a list of things that we are grateful for in our lives. You can start be simply sitting down and writing down 15 things (more or less) that you feel grateful for. They can really be anything, our pets, our health, our family, our jobs. Then everyday at a certain time and place that is convenient and relatively free of distractions, the list can be shared in the form of a prayer or just read out loud in a thoughtful, ritualistic manner.

There is plenty of literature on the benefits of a gratitude practice. From my own experience I can say that they would include the development of a more happy, positive attitude in daily life, more resilience to stress and anxiety and a deeper feeling of connectedness to all things. Though deceptively simple, the practice of gratitude can have a profound impact on your happiness and overall well-being.

Stress/ Mood Tip

I thought I’d expand my “stress tip” section to include “mood” as they often overlap. This tip is a case in point. I am speaking of the importance of good, adequate sleep. Some recognized tips for this include avoiding caffeine, eating some carbs or drinking warm milk an hour before sleep, setting the thermostat at a cooler temperature, using a white noise machine or using earplugs for excessive noise, schedule a “worry time” prior to sleep time to write them all out before hand, don’t take naps during the day, get up and do something boring if you are having trouble sleeping and finally, don’t watch TV or work in bed or watch any disturbing shows before bedtime. Following a bed-time routine can also be helpful. It might include prayer or meditation, reading a boring book, listening to calming music, drinking relaxing tea like chamomile and relaxation techniques like guided imagery or breathing. Also, try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every night. Good luck and happy sleeping!
(many of these suggestions come from Glenn Schiraldi’s ‘The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook’)

Please visit my web site at http://www.harborcounseling.net to learn more about my work as a therapist.
Wishing you peace and happiness!