Spiritual care is an important part of healthcare.
Oct 10, 2020
The spiritual health of a person is a key underlying component to someone’s healing process.
As a health professional I am honoured to be part of that healing process for many, which is why I take the time to connect with my health partners beliefs.
By doing that we can learn to identify if someone is in spiritual distress and refer to the specialist in spiritual health, chaplains or spiritual care professionals.
Here are 3 questions to ask your health partner (patients) on their spiritual health:
Do you have any deeply held values or beliefs? What do I need to know about you to take care of you better?Do you have any philosophy of life , spiritual practice or religion you follow?These are the 3 I like to use.
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Benefits of having hope
Oct 09, 2020
Hope develops over time, but can take an instant to inspire.
Planting seeds of hope, does wonders for healing and the human spirit.
Hope dissipates negative thoughts and energy, uplifts the spirit and co-creates a better world for you and others.
It makes us feel lighter.
It helps us to believe again.
A spark of hope leads to opening the doors to letting in a world of love and happiness into our heart, doors we may have held tightly shut for a long time.
It provides an opportunity to grow and heal.
Hope is an essential need of our spirit!
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
How can we cultivate and understand hope?
Oct 08, 2020
There is ample research showing hope can be cultivated and developed amongst even those who have experienced trauma.
There is no set formula for experiencing hope.
Some think of past experiences that were difficult and were worked through and helped with healing, to move forward.
Others set attainable goals, small ones to work on daily, that are realistic and achievable.
It could be something as simple as having the courage to go outside once a day and sit on the front door steps.
Other ways to connect with hope include, surrounding oneself with people who believe in you so the energy is shared, feeding one's mind with loving thoughts and visualising a healthier, happier you.
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Why is hope important?
Oct 07, 2020
Hope is important for our spirit.
Although in times of challenge’s we may not be aware, we search for hope.
Sometimes we find ways to reach out and connect with something, a greater power within ourselves, to be there, to comfort and nurture us, when all else has failed.
We reach for hope, often in times of deep vulnerability.
Hopelessness is one of the criteria for a depressive episode.
Feeling hopeless, can lead to despair and people losing their desire to be present.
Sometimes others have hope and belief in us, when we do not have any ourselves.
This too can have a profound effect on our ability to heal.
It can inspire hope in us.
Like the gift of sharing love, sharing hope, can alleviate pain and suffering.
When others have hope in us, or we have hope in others, it brings light to a dark tunnel, that there seems no way out of.
It gives people a reason to be and to want to move forward.
All it takes is a little bit of hope, to...
Hope is a need of the spirit!
Oct 06, 2020
Do you have days of hopelessness?
When you feel that there is no way out of the darkness?
When you have lost sight of anything meaningful in your life and struggle to feel good?
Losing hope is something many have experienced. The days and nights seem long and we are wondering why we are here.
What is hope?
Having hope may sometimes seem impossible when things are challenging, but it is an important virtue to cultivate.
It is a virtue of love, that is healing, our desire for a better future.
It is our faith in the unknown which can be scary at times, but necessary to move forward.
It is that ray of light, shining through dark empty spaces, reaching out to uplift our spirits.
We need hope, like we need love and faith, although many of us struggle to have hope amidst trials, tribulations and hardships.
“But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love,” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Honouring and Serving,
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Belonging is an important aspect of spiritual health and well-being.
Oct 02, 2020
Belonging is an important aspect of spiritual health and well-being.
When we feel that we belong we feel a sense of warmth and peace.
On our journey to grow spiritually, belonging helps us nurture our inner being and this will enable us to support others in their desire to belong.
We are able to balance nurturing the needs of others to feel connected, whilst also holding space for others to build their own skills to develop a sense of belonging.
During the exchange, we cultivate the ultimate spiritual value of love.
It is important to be able to identify what needs of the spirit need nurturing for others, patients and for yourself, this will help to create a deeper fulfillment in life.
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
The benefits of social belonging.
Oct 01, 2020
When we have a sense of belonging, we are better able to cope with intense and painful emotions.
Other benefits include:
Improved happiness and joyOur strength grows when we feel a sense of connection with othersWhen the next difficult encounter arrives, we are more resilient and able to work through these situations.We also have better mental and emotional health.Lower risk of cardiovascular diseaseLower rates of unhealthy social behavioursHonouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
What can we do to build a sense of belonging?
Sep 30, 2020
Sometimes we may find it hard to connect and form social relationships within these settings.
Our own inner work can help us relate to others, as we are more likely to bond with others if we also simultaneously work on our own hearts.
The following can help with establishing nurturing fulfilling relationships with others, that cultivate a sense of belonging.
Learning to accept yourself for who you are, this will grow a sense of accepting others for who they are. We do not have to be perfect, yet begin to understand we are created perfectly imperfect.
Being less judgemental of ourselves will lead us to being less judgemental of others.Be open minded others and self.
Look for similarities in others, rather than our differences. But also listen carefully to their story and what makes them different with an open mind.Having compassion for others, or ourselves… brings a sense of belonging.Seeing others with a compassionate heart, you are accepting...
The science of belonging
Sep 29, 2020
Biologically we are also wired to have a sense of belonging.
Research has shown early attachments when we are young affect our relationships when we are older, with positive secure attachments assisting with healthier relationships in adult life.
It begins as early as in the womb, with women who produced higher levels of oxytocin in the first trimester of pregnancy, showing better connection with their babies.
Oxytocin appears to play a significant role in our social connections under various conditions, including stress, where it is also found at high levels along with the hormone cortisol.
Psychologists have labelled this the “ tend and befriend” responses, with higher levels of oxytocin in low stress conditions providing tenderness to relationships and high oxytocin in stressful conditions, causing people to seek out or befriend more connection with others.
Neuroscientists have also described the feelings of disconnection, not belonging and...
Belonging is a need of the human spirit.
Sep 28, 2020
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong anywhere?
You have craved the sense of feeling a part of something, a collective, community, organisation, family?
Belonging is a need of the human spirit.
We all need to feel we belong to something bigger than ourselves, whether it be the projects we work on or the day to day life that we have.
When we have the sense of contribution to a group or collective we have better satisfaction in life.
We are more motivated and engaged in life.
Internal belonging is the spirit's need to feel connected and have a sense of purpose.
This opens the doors for spiritual realisation for ourselves and helps us value our lives.
How is belonging essential to your spirit?
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD