Well-Being Involves the Spiritual Aspect of Our Lives

By Teboho Polanka

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So many religious people, I believe fail to understand firsthand what religion is. Worse yet, a great majority fail to comprehend how it is vital for their well-being. For most, religion is seen as a separate part of life and only to be pursued by a few “religious fanatics.”

Nonetheless, we are spiritual beings. And that in its self should make us a little more interested in the spiritual aspect of our lives. So many times we talk about physical, economic, social, mental aspects of our lives and very rarely do we consider the spiritual side.

I know a lot of financially stable people who are miserable. I also know those who are physically, mentally and socially well-off, but are greatly unstable. In many cases, the underlying reason is that they’ve neglected their spirituality. By spirituality I mean a relationship with the Divine. The neglect of this, often leads many to try everything on this planet to try and fulfil that need in their lives. Many have even become self-destructive in their pursuits.

Instinctively, I know that some people will readily dismiss this issue because they strongly believe religion has brought nothing but ruble into our world. I don’t judge for that. Many who’ve pretended to understand religion have really messed things up.

Just to be clear, my understanding of spirituality has been greatly shaped by Christian world-views. Our religious pursuits differ greatly.

Henry Scougal in THE LIFE OF GOD IN THE SOUL OF MAN states that, ‘Others place it in the outward man, in a constant course of external duties, and a model of performances. If they live peaceably with their neighbors, keep a temperate diet, observe the returns of worship, frequenting the church, or their closet, and sometimes extend their hands to the relief of the poor, they think they have sufficiently acquitted themselves.

Others again put all religion in the affections, in rapturous hearts, and ecstatic devotion; and all they aim at is, to pray with passion, and think of heaven with pleasure, and to be affected with those kind and melting expressions wherewith they court their Savior, till they persuade themselves they are mightily in love with him, and from thence assume a great confidence of their salvation, which they esteem the chief of Christian graces.’

Obviously, we all have an idea about what spiritual pursuit is about. We all fall somewhere in the above quote. Which means we all realize to some degree that we are spiritual beings. Yet, how many people are really serious about this side of their lives?

At the same time, I don’t suppose that people should compromise all other areas of life. We need to strike a BALANCE. We need to be concerned about all aspects without risking the neglect of others. I’m not in a position to debate on whether RELIGION is right or not, but to say that our spirituality will impact our lives as much as do other areas mentioned above.

Henry continues to assert that, “But certainly religion is quite another thing, and they who are acquainted with it will entertain far different thoughts, and disdain all those shadows and false imitations of it. They know by experience that true religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or, in the apostle’s phrase, ‘It is Christ formed within us.’—Briefly, I know not how the nature of religion can be more fully expressed, than by calling it a Divine Life.”

So it becomes imperative to then pursue the genuine religion, if we’re to ever feel fulfilled. According to ECCLESIASTICS 3:11 “He (GOD) has made everything good in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…,” which then says we’ve been made to desire the relationship with the divine. Failure to pursue that will make us feel unfulfilled.

Nothing, not even the other aspects such as financial achievement will ever quench such an urge in all of us. We must reconsider our spirituality.

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Teboho Polanka
Teboho is a Social Worker, Writer and Inspirational Speaker. He is in pursuit of MSc. in Managerial Psychology. Graduates are able to apply psychological principles and methods to tackle challenges in the work environment and provide effective practical solutions. Acting as industrial-organizational psychologists.