Keiser University Spirituality Religiosity and Nationalism Discussion Response

Spiritual practices are a constant call to deeper awareness and an increasing connection with something greater than oneself (McCall,1970). Research has shown that people who engage in religious or spiritual practices are less likely to developing depressive symptoms and other mental health disorders. One possible explanation is that spirituality encourages a positive appraisal of life which, in turn, engenders positive emotions like hope, love, forgiveness, gratitude, and optimism (Krause,2009). I was raised catholic, but growing up I did quite understand religion and I had a lot of questions that kept me from spiritual practices. Fast forward to my 20s I was going through a very hard time that truly took a tool on my emotional health and my self-esteem. I decided that I need it to search for a meaning behind what I was going through and my life purpose. Thatàwhen my journey as a Christian started, and it has been a wild ride, but it has change me for the better. 

     Through this journey I have been able to develop skills that have helped me improve my overall well-being. Temperance is the capacity to moderate or manage our actions, thoughts and feelings (Worthington & van Zyl, 2021). Being self-aware of our own emotions and thoughts is essential for our mental health and to growth from the self-examination of our own behavior. Having this understanding combine with my Christian principles I have been able to develop a greater sense of meaning, purpose and forgiveness. Being able to practice unconditional forgiveness is hard, but it allows me to create more meaningful relationships and it also pushes me to be honest on how I am feeling and making sure I am not holding it inside. In my opinion, temperance and forgiveness go hand in hand because it gives me the opportunity to regulate my reactions before it can have a negative impact on my relationships and my own mental health. Achieving a healthy rhythm of self-awareness and expressing emotions through the guidance of a higher power has given me a deep sense of meaning and purpose in life and that sense satisfaction is what well-being is all about.