Spirituality

Be on the lookout for those who try to turn your faith against you. Law enforcement officials call them affinity frauds as they target victims through a common bond, most often religion. The best defense is knowledge. Check out everything, no matter how trustworthy the person brings the investment opportunity, deal, charity donation request, etc. Never make an investment based solely on the recommendation of a member of an organization or religious group to which you belong. Some other tips include:

• Do not fall for investments that promise guaranteed profits and returns. If an investment seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Be cautious of any investment that is said to have no risks; very few investments are risk-free. The greater the potential return from an investment, the greater the risk of losing the original capital.
• Be skeptical of any investment opportunity that is not in writing.
• Don’t be pressured or rushed into buying an investment before you have a chance to think about or investigate the opportunity, especially those that are pitched as “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities.

Reassure them that there’s no limit to their spiritual well-being. It’s ok to struggle, ask questions, study more, seek advice and counsel from spiritual leaders and advisers. Let them know everything will happen in time, and the best thing you can do is listen, be their support when needed, and offer resources and connection points.

Therapy attempts to reframe both the way we think about and understand our behavioral patterns. It can teach a person to transform critical or catastrophic thinking patterns into rational ways of thinking. Therapy can also teach grounding skills, coping skills and help develop a crisis plan. Engage in self-care. Mental, physical, and spiritual self-care is a critical component if you want to manage your anxiety without medication. Mental self-care can include breathing exercises or journaling. Physical self-care involves any exercise. Spiritual self-care includes time on prayer, worship attendance, or the study of scripture. Massage can be a great way to help reduce tension and anxiety though it will not solve the underlying problem(s) causing the anxiety. Usually, people complain of tight muscles and tension dealing with anxiety. A massage can be a great way to get physical relief, even though temporary. Exercise can help modulate stress responses. It’s no secret that the mind and body are connected, so as we bring our bodies back into shape, it can also profoundly affect our thinking and emotions.

With something as personal as spirituality, you want it to be meaningful to you. While respecting other people’s beliefs and practices is important, don’t feel like you’ve got to follow them yourself if they’re not right for you. Here are some ways to express spirituality:

• Think about how you see yourself concerning your friends, your family and your world.
• Identify what’s important to you. Think about the sorts of changes you’d like to see in yourself.
• Try to describe your ‘authentic’ or ‘true’ self. Then, think about the values you want to live by each day.
• Take time each day to connect with your natural environment: walk your dog in a place that you find beautiful; listen to nature sounds, hike, or go for a bike ride.
• Meditate or do yoga, at home or in a class, to focus on the connection between your body, mind and soul.
• Read books about alternative ways of finding spirituality in your life.