Consider adding the spiritual dimension to your life

Living in the post- September 11th world, I believe many of you will agree, that we are living in troubled times with a great deal of insecurity in our lives.

• Terrorism-Fearing whether or not we will face future attacks.

• War-Feeling great fear and concern about whether this country will engage in war.

• The economy-Many economic advisors do not present a great deal of optimism for positive change in the near future.

Periods of prolonged uncertainty, coupled with limitations in our ability to effect positive change, bring about stress. Many individuals lapse into feeling of helplessness and hopelessness; the result is withdrawal from their normal activities. Others escape the pain of the world around them by chemically altering their perceptions through alcohol and drugs.

Family relationships begin to show evidence of stress as healthy communication patterns break down. Commitments may deteriorate and value systems are often compromised. After long periods of stress, even those individuals with healthy self-concepts begin to question their own self-worth.

Decision-making often becomes ineffective. Concentration and focus are often faulty. Health becomes impaired as stress-related illnesses, sleep difficulties, interruption in health diet and exercise patterns influence the physical and psychological elements of healthy, functioning individuals.

During crises many individuals tend to overlook one of the most valuable stress management techniques available. This is the strong embrace of the spiritual elements available to all of us, which are, in my opinion, the most overlooked and underutilized elements available to everyone.

Call them spiritual stress-busters if you will. They are the divine guidance that gives us the strength to keep going and the resolve to work though any difficulty. As one authority recently said, “I think people have to be in touch with something bigger than themselves to get better.”

Spiritual stress-busters can help clear the mind and provide the strength to move forward with whatever needs to be done. Reports have stated that many more individuals have been attending worship services during the past year, which lends further support to the feelings that we all need help coping with the stress of the present time.

Consider adding the spiritual dimension, with its many sources of strength, to your own life if you are not presently doing so. For many of us it adds hope for the future and strength in dealing with the past and present.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2002