The Power of Faith For Your Health

Early on in the Pandemic, I was very worried.

I have an extensive background in manufacturing. Especially working in supply chains. All I could think about was how shutting down large portions of the world would disrupt products and services from reaching those who need them.

It’s a lot easier to break those supply chains than to put them back together again.

I was more worried about supply chains than I was about Covid. After all, I had 40 mouths to feed in my assisted living homes.

Not to mention making sure they had enough toilet paper.

I could see the price inflation and shortages coming.

I felt worried and anxious every day. What’s next?

So I started looking around for something solid. Something that could anchor me and reduce my anxiety.

I found it in the Catholic Church. I started RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults) training during the Pandemic and joined the Catholic Church.

It has helped me tremendously since.

Very little to no anxiety.

A clearer head to make decisions in my business.

Overall better health.

And I truly believe more wonderful people have come into my life and made it better than ever before.

This is not an email to try to convert you to Catholicism.

It is an email to speculate that having faith in a higher power can really help. I see the difference between my assisted living residents who have faith and those who do not.

They seem to do much better health wise.

They’re happier.

My volunteers enjoy being around them much more.

Apparently there is some science behind faith as well. Anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann wrote a book on faith called ‘How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others’.

In the book she argues that prayer is a lot like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It improves the way you think about life and reduces poor mental health practices which can manifest in physical health problems.

The book further notes:

"Research has repeatedly shown that people of faith report feeling better and healthier. One of the most striking findings in social epidemiology, Luhrmann notes, is that religious involvement with God is better for your body in terms of immune functions and reducing loneliness. One explanation for this, Luhrmann writes, is that for those with an intense faith, God becomes a social relationship. MRI results indicate that in terms of brain function, talking to God resembles conversing with a friend.”

She also talks about your relationship with a higher power:

“But the nature of that relationship is also key in terms of health. The more that God is seen as judgmental and negative, the more mental health symptoms are reported. In contrast, people who represent their relationship with God as being loving and satisfying pray more and report fewer mental health symptoms. “The data suggest that when it’s a good relationship, it’s better for the body,” Luhrmann said.”

She goes on to say that it takes work to grow your faith. You have to use your imagination to understand there is a higher power that you cannot prove or see.  Those who actively practice their faith maintain this relationship better and see more benefits.

This and every holiday season we worry about how we cheat on our diets or don’t exercise as much as we should. If you don’t already you may want to consider exploring your faith further as well. Your body and mind will probably be better for it.