Can Prayer Help You Lead a Healthier and Happier Life?
Guest post by Beverly Nelson…
Prayer is an integral aspect of the lives of millions of individuals who associate themselves with a religion. It is a way to ask for divine intercession in their lives and establish a relationship with a higher power. However, daily prayer can also benefit an individual’s physical and mental health in the following ways…
Reduces Stress
Chronic stress impacts the cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and other body systems, causing them to malfunction. For example, stress increases the body’s production of hormones like cortisol that contribute to inflammation and raise blood sugar levels leading to weight gain. However, prayer lifts the spirit and promotes relaxation, inhibiting the production of stress hormones.
Maximizes Bodily Functions
Stress-reducing prayer can lower blood pressure for better cardiovascular health and improve the function of the digestive, immune, and other body systems when part of a lifestyle routine that incorporates other healthy habits. For example, the latest guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that adults who get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise have a lower risk for developing chronic illnesses. Those with full-time jobs can incorporate movement into their work day by taking stairs instead of elevators, taking brisk walks during lunch breaks, or periodically stretching throughout the day. Praying while performing any physical movement is an excellent way to compound the health benefits of both activities.
Improves Sleep
Through magnetic image resonance technology, researchers can now determine that prayer activates parts of the brain that play an active role in how individuals self-soothe. By promoting relaxation, easing restlessness, and quieting distracting thoughts, prayer helps achieve restorative sleep and minimizes the number and duration of sleep interruptions.
Promotes Self-Control
Impulsivity can lead to a restless mind; therefore, many religions promote practices that improve the ability to focus. For example, prayer steers one’s attention away from unhealthy or devastating behaviors and directs it toward a meaningful and purposeful personal relationship with God. Therefore, many addiction recovery programs throughout the country emphasize the importance of relying upon faith and prayer for maintaining sobriety. For example, they teach The Serenity Prayer to help addicts realize that they cannot eliminate temptation from their lives. Still, they can achieve the power, control, and wisdom to overcome it.
Achieves Forgiveness
Forgiveness is at the heart of all Judeo-Christian traditions because it reflects God’s infinite love for humanity. Prayer is an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection by allowing individuals to share their most intimate thoughts with God and seek and learn forgiveness which impacts physical well-being.
Relieves Depression and Anxiety
Regardless of their social ties, individuals who pray during life’s low points may experience comfort and strength with less depression and anxiety. For example, prayer during challenging times such as the death of a loved one may inspire feelings of attachment despite the loss.
In addition, studies show that prayer can lift the feelings of dread, hopelessness, and uncertainty under anxiety-inducing circumstances or help individuals recover from trauma.
Alleviates Loneliness
Loneliness impacts various aspects of humanity and is a recurring theme in the Bible and the Quran. Medical professionals link loneliness to many physical and mental health complications. Although praying in communities can bond people together, prayer can help relieve feelings of isolation, reminding people that they are not alone.
Whether prayer involves gratitude, supplication, or confession, it has the power to improve physical and mental health and well-being as part of a daily routine.