Scientists have discovered that the secret to happiness isn’t self-confidence but rather, self-kindness and love. Self-confidence, after all, is linked to external achievements, while self-kindness and love are unconditional and life-affirming. Science has also found that people who are spiritual are also happier. In what way are both subjects linked, and can spirituality actually sharpen your ability to love yourself and treat yourself kindly?

Embracing Healing Energies

To truly love yourself, it is important to embrace healing energy. You can make a great effort to love and accept yourself as you are but if you are plagued by negative energies that lead to guilt, shame, and unworthiness, then it is impossible to achieve a state of authentic calm. There are many ways to let healing energies into your life. These include therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapies, spending time in nature, and relying on therapies like Reiki or using healing crystals to encourage positive energy to flow through your body and mind.

Spirituality Battles Depression

When you are depressed, it is very difficult to do the things that are so important for your happiness and wellbeing. Depression wrests from your motivation to take care of health issues, take the small steps that make you feel more beautiful and vibrant, and enjoy the hobbies and social interactions that give your life meaning.A 2014 study showed that spirituality and religion can help protect against major depression by thickening the brain cortex. Spiritual activities are particularly effective for those who are predisposed to the disease. When you feel positive about life, you can make changes that can boost your happiness and wellbeing. 

What Changes Do People Wish They Could Make?

Studies have shown that there is a strong link between the physical, mental, and spiritual. A 2017 study (Kaur et al, 2017) showed, for instance, that common dental disorders like tooth loss, untreated cavities, and missing teeth or gaps can affect one’s self-esteem and quality of life. You might have always wanted to have orthodontics to close a tooth gap or to stop yourself from grinding your teeth at night. An issue like a tooth gap can actually affect your gum health and cause cavities yet in a matter of weeks, the problem can be completely solved and you can enjoy a better quality of life. Oral work is just one of many changes many people would like to effect. Others include the wish to partake in further study, travel, or shed unwanted pounds. Often, it is simply a lack of motivation or spiritual malaise that stops people from pursuing these goals.

Accepting Yourself

Spirituality can encompass many goals, including strengthening the connection to a God or life force, and of attaining a state of greater self-knowledge. Many spiritual practices (particularly meditation) encourage people to honor and accept negative emotions and perceptions instead of repressing them. In mindfulness meditation, for instance, one is told to allow all emotions to flow through one’s mind, including emotions like fear, anger, and worry. The key of this spiritual practice is to “ride through” different waves of emotion, understanding that they are not permanent and that they do not define you. Recognizing that you are not perfect and that your thoughts are not always kind and peaceful, is the first step towards self-acceptance. After all, it is difficult to make improvements if you are unable to identify the patterns of thought, emotions, and behavior that are leading to unhappiness.

The Power of Mantras

Mantras and affirmations are an excellent way to bring positivity to your life and to tell yourself the words that are sometimes difficult to hear in your day to day life. Just a few mantras that can remind you of the importance of self-love are “Aieem namah” (“My true nature is joyful and loving”), “Aham brahmasmi” (“I am wholeness”), “So hum” (“I am” or “I am enough”), and “Aham prema” (“I am love”). Repeating these simple yet powerful messages can open the heart and enhance your ability to give yourself and other love.

One of the biggest secrets to happiness is loving oneself. Spirituality can help you achieve this goal by encouraging many activities that can bring you closer to your inner world and to the hearts of others. From the pursuit of healing energies right through to the formation of a support group, spirituality reminds you that you are part of a powerful life force that will lead you through life’s ups and downs in the company of those who love and value you.When incorporating spirituality into your life, don’t simply do so on a theoretical levels. Try to include practices such as meditation into your life. Doing so will help you see yourself as an imperfect being but one that is still worthy of love—since neither your thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are permanent. Finally, take a few minutes every day to recite yourself mantras that reaffirm your kind, joyful, and loveable nature.

Sally Benson is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.

This article is written exclusively for CrystalWind.ca by Sally Benson.  © 2022 crystalwind.ca. All rights reserved. Do Not Copy.