By: Chaplain David Alexander PhD, DMin
These
days, we tend to honor evidence-based resources in promoting wellness in all
aspects of life—and for good reason. When proper investigation has led to
trustworthy evidence about how best to live under certain conditions, we should
pay attention. But there’s another way to transmit best practices in life and
in love, which can support well-being and be shaped through generations of
lived experience: tradition.
When it
comes to spiritual wellness, tradition is an important source to mine, because
spirituality is a far more ancient discipline than the material sciences. Complementing
evidence-based resources with traditional wisdom often brings attention to new
possibilities for our “flourishing” that we otherwise might miss. Here are a
few suggestions from tradition you could put into practice.
1.
Keep sacred time
Throughout
most of human history, and across most cultures and traditions, people have
tended to set aside some part of the week for spiritual tasks, practices, and
devotions. These times often feature rich community life and shared ritual, and
they tend to have a reorienting potential by allowing individuals, families,
and communities to realign with their most cherished beliefs and ultimate
values.
Yet
even when public worship services are suspended during emergencies, there are
still many ways we can keep sacred time. We can find strength in setting aside time
to work on our spiritual lives by quietly keeping our own schedules of observances
or livestreaming religious services or spiritual events. This is true, by the
way, whether we’re living alone or with a roommate or family. Even praying or
meditating “alone” is an act that places us in the community of those who share
our faith all over the world. If it’s possible to pray or meditate as a family
or group of friends—even with the use of tech—so much the better.
2.
Keep sacred space
Traditionally,
sacred space has been an important part of the architecture of life. The beginning
of the modern era and its utilitarian sensibilities has heightened interest in
multipurpose spaces. But many people of faith today still join together to
build or maintain a special place just to worship or to meditate or read
spiritual works. There’s an idea that a place set aside for spiritual
activities will aid us to more quickly find peace and enter into a prayerful
state of mind. Many people of faith around the world set aside a wall or
corner in their homes for individual or family prayer. Each day they might
visit this space to light a candle, say daily prayers, engage in spiritual
meditation, or to sit and listen to an inspiring talk or some beautiful,
contemplative music.
Have
you ever thought of doing this? We can really get creative here—involving as
many people as possible (virtually or in person) in a sacred space’s location,
decoration, and contents.
3.
Awaken spiritual strength through gratitude
Many
traditional spiritual practices have proven over generations to lessen the
impact of fear and uncertainty during times of great adversity. These practices
haven’t served to “sugarcoat” or minimize the very real dangers of such times. But
they have helped people to bear the pressures of our reality with grace and
hope.
Fear
can indeed have value, but it can also erode our strength. When we’re worried
or distraught or uncertain (something most people have felt in response to the
current time in one way or another), this state can deeply impact our spiritual
lives, and leave us feeling uninspired and dislocated from our center. Since
ancient times, spiritual people have attempted to transform the power of worry
into trust and hope by separating themselves from worrisome thoughts and
turning their minds to God or to a transcendent form of love. Some people have
done this by making lists of people and things for which they’re grateful, even
beginning far in the past, and holding these things up to God (or to their
sense of a Higher Power) with renewed wonder and gratitude.
4. Turn
inward inspiration into service
Many
wellness messages in recent times have suggested we should watch less news, in
order to limit our passive intake of the painful and fearful circumstances
surrounding us. That’s good advice. But there’s another thing we can all focus
on: Limiting our exposure to negative talk and negative thoughts while
simultaneously increasing our contact with things that are good, true, and
beautiful.
We can
also try increase our contact with other people who are trying to do the same. Beauty
can elicit a response that’s both internally inspiring and outward-orienting in
nature, so its impact tends to enhance relationships and activate a desire for
service and sacrifice. This has been recorded in sacred texts from throughout
the world, over millennia of human history.
5. Turn
service into inward inspiration
Another
spiritual phenomenon that’s been recorded in sacred texts worldwide
suggests spiritual life may have linear dimensions, but also contains powerful
circular dimensions. Just as inward inspiration can activate a desire to serve
and sacrifice for others, it’s also true that serving and sacrificing for
others can inspire us and fill our lives with purpose and meaning.
Sometimes
the best way to seek inspiration when we’re feeling sad or cold-hearted is to
reach out to someone else who needs help. These age-old truths were often told
to us by our grandparents and the elders in our neighborhoods—as told to them
by their grandparents and elders. This living transmission of wisdom can aid us
now.
About
the Author
Chaplain
David Alexander is Chaplain at the Uniformed Services University and a
Commander in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps. Chaplain Alexander is also an
Assistant Professor of Military & Emergency Medicine and the Research
Program Manager for Spiritual Fitness at the Consortium for Health and Military
Performance.
* The
opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect the official policy or position of USUHS or DoD. The
contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do
not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of The Henry M.
Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. Mention of trade
names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the
U.S. Government. The author has no financial interests or relationships to
disclose.
