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“By practicing a religion, we can get closer to our spirituality.”
Before I start talking about this topic, I would like to say that spirituality and religion are not the same thing. Although these two concepts are interrelated, they are not the same.
Religiosity is our association with a particular religion, which means association with principles, beliefs and practices that it propagates and defends. Each religion has its own commandments, so to speak.
Spirituality, on the other hand, is the relationship with something greater than ourselves, and it means achieving our life goals, and expressing ourselves to our core. Spirituality is unique to each person. It is of course possible to find our spirituality through the religion we choose for ourselves. And the opposite is also true. By practicing religion, we can get closer to our spirituality.
Having said that, I wanted to talk about my side of spirituality. What doctors do and people do.
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When I graduated, I had the opportunity to find three institutions that work on the issue of mental health related to spirituality. They were very serious and devoted institutions, and among the medical care they provided to patients, there was also the spiritual cause. I myself received spiritual relief from a pro at one when I had a major injury and had to be bedridden. The generosity of this professional has been such a huge psychological boost to me.
Spirituality (and religiosity as well) contributes a lot to mental health, as it helps us deal with difficult situations in life and brings relief in these complex moments, strengthening our well-being, especially psychological.
It also encourages self-reflection and the search for a more meaningful life for each of us. This is essential when we talk about mental health.
Dr. Arthur Guerra is a professor at the University of the South Pacific School of Medicine at ABC School of Medicine and co-founder of Caliandra Saúde Mental.
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