Spirituality and religion as resilient supports.

Research suggests that both religiosity and spirituality can play a significant role in fostering resilience, helping people cope with life's difficulties more effectively.

Although different, both paths offer frameworks of meaning and practices that can strengthen coping skills.

Religion and Resilience

People who identify as religious and actively participate in rituals and faith communities often find their beliefs an important support for resilience.

Religion can provide a sense of purpose, hope and comfort, especially in times of crisis.

Religious practices, such as prayer and attending services, can provide a framework for processing suffering and finding strength in a connection to something transcendent.

Spirituality Beyond Religion

For those who do not consider themselves religious or do not follow a specific tradition, spirituality remains a viable way to increase resilience.

Spirituality, in a broader sense, involves connecting with oneself, with something greater than the individual self, or with the universe at large.

Practices such as meditation, mindfulness and yoga, which have been practiced for thousands of years, are ways to cultivate this inner, transcendent connection.

These practices help to calm the mind, stay present and improve overall well-being, which in turn increases resilience.

Spiritual Practices for Resilience

There are various spiritual tools and practices that can help people, whether religious or not, to increase their level of resilience.

Meditation, for example, allows one to connect with oneself and with something greater, improving well-being and happiness.

Mindfulness, or mindfulness of the present moment, is also a key spiritual practice. Yoga, by connecting body and mind, also contributes to this spiritual development.

Another important spiritual tool is forgiveness. Often misunderstood, forgiveness in this context does not mean condoning a harmful action.

But to free oneself from the negative emotional charge associated with it, which is crucial for healing and resilience.

Practices such as gratitude journaling or writing about "three good things" that happened in the day can also foster a more spiritual and grateful perspective, even without a formal religious component.

The goal of these practices is to help people connect with an inner source of peace and strength.