Modern life – in the West at least – is entirely different from the way people lived even a few decades ago. The internet and social media play an increasingly dominant role in lives, and though there are a great many benefits to these technologies, there are also a great many downsides. The pressure to take perfect selfies, a constant feed of ‘fake’ news, and users voicing a lot of angry opinions, can easily leave you feeling drained and pessimistic. Many people are returning to spirituality to help combat the feelings of emptiness and negativity modern life can cause. Here are some ways you can introduce spirituality into your own life.
Yoga
You are probably
familiar with yoga as a low-intensity exercise regime focusing on toning the
muscles and gaining core strength. However, yoga can be traced back at least
5,000 years, perhaps even longer, to the Vedas, an Indian holy text. The
practice originated as a form of spiritual development to train the body and
mind to self-observe, allowing for devotees to become more aware of their own
nature. There are many different types of yoga, and you are sure to find one that is suited to your
needs and lifestyle. For instance, hatha yoga, often considered as the best
practice for beginners, contains a mix of poses (asana), breathing exercises
(pranayama), and meditation, enabling you to build up both your physical and
mental strength.
Join a prayer group
Millions of people all
over the world have found strength and comfort in being active followers of
faith. In the turmoil of modern life, you might want to reconnect with a lapsed
faith or be interested in exploring the teachings of a specific religion. Joining
a prayer group, such as that offered by the Cenacle
Sisters, will provide you with
a community in which to explore your faith amongst like-minded individuals who
will support you on your faith journey. As well as being given the tools to
pray on your own and as a group, there is also plenty of opportunities to attend
spiritual retreats, during which you can focus on prayer and deepening your
faith away from the distractions of modern life.
Mindfulness meditation
The practice of
mindfulness arguably has a lot in common with the meditation aspect of yoga and
the quiet reflection of prayer. Mindfulness meditation involves directing your thoughts towards what is
happening right now, what your body is doing, and where you are. You nurture the
sense of being fully present in the moment, and this can help to ease an
anxious internal dialogue and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. As such,
practicing mindfulness meditation can be particularly beneficial to those
suffering from depression and anxiety, but it is a useful tool for anyone to
help deal with a stressful, hectic modern life and reconnect with themselves
and the world. An app such as headspace.com will help you to build a mindfulness routine and
guided meditation into your everyday life.
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