Happiness Activity No. 11: Practicing Religion and Spirituality

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Religion and spirituality undoubtedly help us find meaning in life. Why do we need a sense of meaning? Because we need to feel that we matter, that our suffering and our hard work aren’t futile, and that our life has a purpose. Because we need to feel a sense of control over our fates. Because we need to be able to justify our actions: why we should forgive, what we have to be grateful for, why we should turn the other cheek, and so on. Because we need a reason to focus beyond just ourselves. Finally, because a sense of meaning fuels our sense of self-worth. It makes us feel good about our belief systems, our identities, and the communities of like-minded individuals to which we belong.

 

Learn more here.

 

 

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Exercise

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Pray. A universal way to practice religion and spirituality is through prayer.

 

• Dedicate a period of time each day—from five minutes to an hour—to prayer. You may use the time to petition God for something for yourself or others or simply to be “in his presence,” or to read a prayer book.

• Alternatively, you may choose to pray spontaneously throughout the day and in specific situations—for example, when you feel depressed or tense or judgmental, or when you witness a beautiful object or a kind act, or when something particularly good (or bad) has happened.

• Say a prayer upon waking or before bedtime or prior to each meal. A prayer of gratitude, if you are so inclined, may be particularly comforting and happiness-inducing.