Spirituality & Well-Being

Spirituality is a deeply personal aspect of human nature that enriches our lives in diverse ways. It can coexist with, complement, or stand independently of religious affiliations. Spiritual well-being signifies a flourishing state across all life dimensions, characterized by a profound connection to something greater than oneself. This wellspring not only replenishes our reserves of peace and gratitude but also serves as an accessible anchor to help us stay grounded in our moral and ethical lives. Explore the impactful insights, inspiration, and resources in this edition of the Positive Pulse, and learn how prioritizing your spiritual well-being can unlock a more fulfilling and balanced life.

1. Humans have an innate, biological capacity for spiritual development: Spirituality isn't just passed down through culture, it's embedded in our genes. In a groundbreaking Virginia Commonwealth University study, Dr. Kenneth Kendler discovered that the degree to which a person is spiritual is 29% determined by their genome and 71% by their environment.

2. Spirituality protects against depression: Researchers at Columbia University discovered that the intergenerational transfer of spirituality is the strongest protective factor against depression. This key finding highlights the importance of nurturing the innate spirituality of the parent and child.

3. A spiritual brain is a healthier brain: A Columbia University study found that a spiritual brain, as indicated by a thicker and more robust cerebral cortex (regions associated with self and environmental perception) is associated with better mental health.

4. Resilience is cultivated through spiritual engagement: Responding to life events with spiritual awareness enhances resilience, while a lack of such response raises the risk of depression.

• Through the Positive Pulse, interested participants will vote from a selection of books on a specific well-being topic, quarterly
• The book with the highest weighted score will be selected and participants will have about 3 months to complete the book
• Participants will receive an Introspective Questionnaire designed to encourage thoughtful contemplation and meaningful discussions as the book is being read
• Smola will work with the registered participants to schedule one Virtual Feedback Session at the end of each quarter
• Everyone who submits the Questionnaire or attends the Virtual Feedback Session will be entered into a raffle for a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card

1. Activate "Bottom-up" Attention: Unlike "top-down" attention where you already have an idea or goal and then you scan the environment for information that suits your goal, activate "bottom-up" attention so you might see the synchronicities and other messages that life is sending you.

2. Deactivate your Achieving Mind: Stress activates the achievement-oriented mind, centered in the frontal lobe, emphasizing control and organization in our lives. Whereas spiritual encounters, moments of wonder, and awe activate the frontotemporal network linked to love, the parietal lobe associated with feelings of unity and belonging, and the ventral attention network, which fosters a perception of the world as active and communicative. When our spiritual minds are engaged, a unique sense of self emerges — one intricately connected to a broader unity, and a loving connection with others, nature, and for many, a higher power.

3. Meditate & Connect with Nature: What do couples holding hands, monks during mediation, and the Earth's electromagnetic field have in common? They all emanate high-amplitude alpha waves or what Dr. Lisa Miller calls the wavelength of the oneness of life. Meditation, love and connection, and being in nature allow us to surf these alpha waves, and in doing so, enhance the relational (self, others, nature, higher power) aspect of spirituality. This relational aspect of spirituality can be mapped across different faith traditions too, from Christianity to Islam, Hinduism to Buddhism. Divine love and human love are all connected.

“You do not need to work to become spiritual. You are spiritual; you need only to remember that fact. Spirit is within you." -Julia Cameron