When it comes to spiritual wellbeing, mindfulness,
meditation and gratitude are powerful tools. But our own spiritual life is
something we consciously cultivate. And today, the ability to be centered and
at peace within yourself – and with those around you – is more important than
ever. We all face stresses and strains of modern life. Reducing stress and
boosting your outlook are just two of the ways that growing your own spiritual
wellbeing can benefit you. Mindfulness, meditation and gratitude are completely
intertwined, and because spirituality is something we choose to learn, it’s a
journey we can all take together. There are many paths out there and yours is
your own. Yet by practicing mindfulness and meditation, and cultivating an
attitude of gratitude, you can find your version of true peace. And by doing
so, you can also help to improve the lives of those around you. Welcome to your
journey of spiritual wellbeing.
 Being mindful is all about being in the now, of focusing on
your task at hand, of being present with friends and family at that moment –
whether you are at work, with family or friends. At work, that might mean being
focused on what you are doing, being engaged with a colleague when they are
speaking to you, and taking regular but scheduled time away from your work to
recharge and rest. With family, it might look like being fully present and
listening with active engagement, of putting away the dishes so you can si give
your full attention, and having specific and scheduled quality time. With
friends, that might mean being there for them when they are in need, giving
them your time and energy when they need you most, and activities that are fun
and memorable for both of you – grabbing lunch, happy hour, shopping, sporting
event.
 Time, energy and fun – that is what you offer your friends
through being there, listening, helping, going for a laugh, and vice versa.
Timeliness, in the broader context of mindfulness, equates with attending to
what’s important to you, and being entirely present throughout. It’s about
balance, about nurturing and about being fully engaged in life, moment by
moment.
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 Meditation isappealing because it provides a means of responding to the drama of a world
where life’s pace and pressures seem to grow ever-more frantic. It provides the
opportunity to put the brakes on life if even for a while; a chance to take
one’s hand off the wheel and take stock. In doing so, one can cultivate a
degree of distance in which to exercise a refreshed perspective and resilience
in the face of the daily dramas that life continues to throw at us.
 There are many
different types of meditation with specific techniques and results. Some
examples of meditation include:
 1. Mindfulness
Meditation: This involves attending to the present moment without judgment in a
nonreactive way. It is typically done by focusing on the breath, bodily
sensations, or the outside environment.
 2. Loving-kindness
meditation: Also known by its Sanskrit name of Metta, this type of meditation
is about cultivating feelings of friendship towards yourself and others.
 3. Transcendental
Meditation: you silently repeat a mantra twice to transcend the repetition and
reach a state of relaxed awareness.
 4. Yoga Meditation:
Yoga combines postures, breath control, and meditation in a practice that helps
us feel whole.
 5. Guided Visualization:
This type of meditation relates to imagining a particular place or scenario in
order to increase relaxation and relieve stress.
 Furthermore, YES!
prayer is a form of meditation. Prayer is habitual, and holistic: it is an
encounter with God and the spiritual part of yourself, and your beliefs, in a
space where you can make requests for yourself and for others, express
appreciation and repentance, ask for strength
 For example, a
real-world demonstration of prayer’s power shows up in the relatively large
number of people who testify to getting peace and comfort from prayer and even
being healed by it, whether through first-hand reports or scientific studies on
prayer and health.
 They must be amply
supplied with gratitude and positivity.’ These things make an important
difference not only to how we feel, but to keeping ourselves fit.
 Gratitude can become
a multifaceted force transforming and reorienting our entire system of life and
its perception. It can help us to see that, instead of, say, not feeling good
enough or having to deal with increasing stress as we face more and more closed
doors, the actual state of affairs is that we have many things for which to be
grateful. While we might not find ourselves bound by the sufferings of Ott, we
can all undoubtedly relate to the necessity for diverting our focus from the
poisons of negativity onto the beneficial medicine of optimism. In addition to
the acute psychological symptoms Ott endured, gratitude has many benefits that
have been documented and scientifically investigated. Studies indicate that practicing
gratitude can lead to improved happiness, social connectedness, relationships
and stress reduction.
 Also, there is a
power to positivity – a deep and abiding sense of optimism can get us through
life’s rough spots; it might even affect the body directly, since previous
research has found a link between positive emotion and reduced risk of some
health conditions.
 As well as gratitude,
positivity and existential balance, a small confiding band of friends is
equally advantageous. If you can surround yourself with a few people who know
you inside out – and more than tolerate you – all the better. It’s here that
true understanding, empathy, shared existence and a sense of belonging can be
counted on to provide an emotional bulwark against life’s storms.
 In contrast, one can
be part of a large group without the same sense of understanding and support
that comes from a smaller but intimate group of friends. Large social circles
can be fun but don’t always make for deep connections.
 Finally, we can say
that there are ways to feel happier, healthier and more fulfilled through an
emphasis on gratitude, positivity and strong friendships.
