When applied properly and consistently these thought processes can transform your whole life. Most of us suffer from low self esteem and a lack self confidence from time to time. Eventually we believe that self improvement is impossible to achieve.

These thoughts have been shaped by past failures and negative experiences.
Hopefully we can reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and are ready to accept information that will help us unlock our self improvement power. For many people, financial success is an important part of this process.

We begin to understand that self improvement and self growth improve the quality of life. There is no such thing as an instant fix. Upon starting any self improvement program, most people usually encounter inner resistance that come from their old habits and their subconscious mind, and also resistance and opposition from the people around them.

Self-improvement begins with self-understanding , knowing your true potential and of being aware that you are unique. Improvement can be measured in many ways, in a variety of contexts. What really does matter is how the individual sees his or her self, and what they would perceive as improvement to that self.

The popularity of self-improvement books, tapes and seminars is a reflection of the universal interest we all have in overcoming our limitations, or being the best we can be. The reason why you see so much literature on self improvement whenever you go to a bookstore is that people have forgotten the basic fact that what they are seeking is already within them, and that they already have the means within them to achieve their goals.

In pursuit of an objective, a goal, or even a dream, whether business or personal, you can increase the likelihood of success by continuously exercising your mind with positive thinking, self help and personal growth.

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Improvement And Self Help is a post from: The Apostate Blog

Are you imagining, yet, how great your life would be?

Well I’m a big believer in the power of inspirational quotations to get the message across as quickly and directly as possible. And that’s why I’ve decided to list seven self improvement quotes that cover these key self-help areas of life. And I discuss how you can embrace these inspirational quotes – these self improvement ideas – so that you can make a difference in your life today.

Let’s begin.

==> Self-Improvement Quote #1: Anger

“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
– Marcus Aurelius.

What this quotations means, I think, is that there is nothing wrong with getting angry – things are always going to happen that take us unawares, and make us cross. The important issue is HOW we express that anger.

So make sure, starting today, that you take a look at what’s still making you angry years after the event. And let go of this anger, if you can, as this anger is hurting you much more than it’s hurting anyone else.

And try and deal with new angry situations in a way where you express yourself clearly and assertively. Express it and forget it.

==> Self-Improvement Quote #2: Assertiveness

“Assertiveness is not what you do, it’s who you are!”
– Shakti Gawain

When you express yourself clearly, and use words like “I” (rather than “you”) then you are giving life to your true self – whether the other person agrees with you or not.

How much better is it to do this than to squash your thoughts and feelings so as not to ’cause a problem’ to somebody else.

No problem is caused when you are being your true self.

==> Self-Improvement Quote #3: Communication Skills

“When I am at Milan, I do as they do at Milan; but when I go to Rome, I do as Rome does”
– St. Augustine

Of course, ‘tailoring your message to the audience’ will always be of assistance in assertive communication. It will always help the other person understand what you are saying and why you are saying it.

This level of insight into each other’s position will always be of benefit to both parties, no matter whether you agree or disagree. The reason? At least you will both know you have been truly heard.

==> Self-Improvement Quote #4: Gratitude

“Remember that not to be happy is not to be grateful.”
– Elizabeth Carter

This quote is another way of saying that having gratitude for what’s going on in your life is a sure way of finding happiness. Even if you’re disagreeing with people, or you don’t like the way people do things, it should still be possible to be grateful for that person in your life, for the differences that they reveal.

After all, imagine how dull it would be to take a walk in the woods only to find all of the trees the same, and all of the flowers the same, and all of the bird song to be the same.

Gratitude is simply finding a good reason to appreciate, rather than a good reason to criticise.

==> Self-Improvement Quote #5: Positive Attitude

“Positive thinking won’t let you do anything but it will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”
– Zig Ziglar

If ever there was an inspirational quote that explained the power of positive thinking in anybody’s life it is this one. Why would anybody want to do something badly when they can do it well instead, simply via adopting a positive thinking attitude.

I know that it’s not always possible to feel good about things, and to not allow ourselves to wallow in our (apparent) repeated short-comings. This is understood. The idea, though, is to remind ourselves of how much more we can do in life by not allowing ourselves to wallow, but by getting back in the game and having another “I can” go…

==> Self-Improvement Quote #6: Self Love

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
–Oscar Wilde

As ever ol’ Oscar Wilde takes a short sentence to sum up a lifelong strategy for a successful, happy and fulfilled life. Self-love is absolutely vital to embrace, if we are to enjoy ourselves and our relationships. And everyone benefits when we do so.

What a fantastic self-improvement idea – to love ourselves more!

==> Self-Improvement Quote #7: Fear

“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.”
– Florence Nightingale

And when we love ourselves more, guess what we automatically do less of? We fear less. And when we fear less, we do more. And when we do more, we live more? And when live more, we are more.

Understanding how fear has a grip on our lives, and how it’s possible for us to look at this fear and to make it ‘disappear’ is almost as important a self improvement idea as loving ourselves more.

That’s what I say, anyway.

–

Okay, there we have it. There you have some self improvement tips and ideas by way of 7 self improvement quotes. The quotes covered anger, assertiveness, fear, communication, appreciation, positive thinking and self-love. And they clearly show you what to start doing to achieve greatness in your life.

This is especially true when you remember what a great life is all about…

“There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self.”
– Hindu Proverb

Best Self Improvement Quotes is a post from: The Apostate Blog

Dr. John C. Maxwell said, “Self-development is a higher calling; it is the development of your potential so that you can attain the purpose for which you were created.” Self-improvement therefore, begins with your spirit, your mind, as you consistently acquire new information and discard the ones that are obsolete that no longer serve your purpose.

Self improvement tips are necessary for each person in order for them to recognize the areas in which they need to improve, especially with somebody who likes to do things properly who does not see himself or herself as having any faults or deficiencies. These self improvement tips will become more significant if you take massive action in applying them. Here are 5 Hot Tips for Self Improvement that you can start implementing today.

Identify Areas you intend to improve: The self improvement program you develop for yourself should contain all of the areas you have identified as your weakness to be improved on. This is one of the most important self improvement tips that you must learn is to identify that you are not infallible and that there is always room for improvement. The detailing of this information and the implementation of a program of improvement should allow for a better understanding of these areas in need of improvement

Identify Limiting beliefs: Identifying and getting rid of limiting beliefs is critical to your self improvement and to your overall self development. Most people have sabotage their progress by their negative belief systems. It is also known to have literally affected their self esteem and confidence. Consequently, your self improvement plan must include dismantling these limiting beliefs to improve ones life. These teachings and self improvement tips enable you to make rapid changes in your life simply by changing your negative beliefs system and transforming it into creative opportunities.

Associate with positive people: This is of utmost importance if you will achieve your goals and objectives. There will always be temporary detour in your life and things will not move in the direction you anticipated. It will be very helpful to have positive people around you that will encourage and motivate you to do what you need to do to change your life and move you in the direction of your anticipated goals. These individual have a way of robbing off on you.

Evaluate your life: This self improvement tip is important so that you can ascertain what is working and what is not. There are times when you tend to focus on the things that you have done wrong. But contrary to doing that, you should instead focus on the things you did right so as to enable you focus on doing those things again and that are congruent to your core values and this enhances your self improvement.

Develop the right way of thinking: The right way of thinking is of immense importance in your self improvement plan because a positive mindset will make all the difference in the end. We are sum total of our thoughts, that is you are a product of your thoughts. To change your world, you have to develop the right way of thinking.

Self improvement is gaining to a greater extent importance because it enables people to create a good notion about themselves and redesign the life they were born to live.

Discover More Hot Tips for Self Improvement that will accelerate your success and improve the quality of your life! Do you want to learn more about self improvement tips? If so visit: http://successempowermentsystems.com/audio

Author: Richard Onebamoi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Top Five Tips For Self Improvement is a post from: The Apostate Blog

Dave Ricklan, Founder of Self Growth, one of the leading sites on the internet for self improvement researched the field of self growth.

You might at first glance say “well those results are not a surprise”. However read on and discover how you can apply this research to your coaching practice.

The results of the survey are detailed below.

Question 1 – Who are the most important leaders in the Self Improvement Industry?

The answers were: Anthony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Oprah, Jack Canfield.

Question 2 – What websites are the most effective for generating traffic to your website?

The answers were: Google, Yahoo, SelfGrowth, MSN and MSN Search, EzineArticles.

Question 3 – Where do you get the most up to date information on the Self Improvement Industry?

The answers were: SelfGrowth, Google and Google Alerts, Amazon, Master Mind Groups, Hay House and Hay House Radio.

So what are the implications of this research?

Here are five actions you can take to attract more clients to your self growth and self improvement practice.

1. If you are in the self improvement industry, and are wondering what the alternative resources are that your potential clients will turn to for products and services, this is invaluable information. Be sure to familiarise yourself with companies detailed in the research and the self growth and self improvement resources that these other companies provide.

2. Review the websites of these companies and discover how they present their marketing materials and the kinds of language that they use in their web copy. Make sure that you do not copy their information, but study these sites and learn what these leaders in the self growth and self improvement industry know about their potential clients.

3. Ensure that you are writing content rich articles in the field of self improvement and self development and are regularly submitting them to EzineArticles.com as your potential clients are using EzineArticles.com as a place to research for solutions to help them. Make sure that you have a compelling resource box at the end of your article that will then encourage readers of your self growth and self improvement articles to visit your website.

4. Write and submit online press releases about your self improvement and self growth practice every month and ensure that they are rich in key words for your field of expertise. You online press release will help you get found in the search engines and in Google Alerts, two of the key places people rely on for finding solutions for their self growth and self improvement challenges. For a free audio tutorial on how to write and submit online press releases visit [http://www.bizgrowthlive.com/onlinepr/]

5. Create an action plan for the next 90 days of specific activities that you can take to apply what you have learned from this research in terms of building your corporate brand and personal brand as an expert in the self development and self growth field. How will you be able to differentiate yourself? What actions do you need to take to move your marketing materials to the next level? Identify the resources you can apply to enjoy even a fraction of success that these leaders in the self improvement and self development sector have realised. Then implement your branding and business development action plan.

NOTE: The research reported on was undertaken by SelfGrowth.com in July 2007.

Do you want to learn more about this and similar strategies?

Then register for my newsletter and no-cost teleseminars where I guide you to build a successful coaching practice. You can register today at: http://www.bizgrowthlive.com

Copyright Krishna De. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long the article is printed in it’s entirety, you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way and include the following copyright statement:

About the author: Krishna De is one of Ireland’s leading executive coaches, coach supervisors and mentors whose clients include professional services firms, consultants and coaches. You will find Krishna building her personal brand online at http://www.krishnade.com where you can also access her content rich branding and business development ezine and no-cost audio tutorials, bringing you strategies, inspiration and tips to bring your corporate brand, employer brand and personal brand to life.

Author: Krishna De
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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5 Methods of Attracting More Clients To Your Self Improvement Practice is a post from: The Apostate Blog

• Self improvement is a choice, and we choose to change ourselves from within.
• Self improvement is to become responsible of what we do, what we have and who we are.
• Self improvement helps us to build our self esteem, our values and it takes discipline.
• Self improvement is to take the needed power and control into your own hands to create the future you want.
• Self improvement is a battle, a continuous struggle to transcend our weaknesses and limitations.It starts with knowing ourselves and having an aspiration of having a better life. On the battle field we need to carry appropriate luggage and armor. Choose a bullet-proof armor and this is self change. Self change is about changing our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.
• Self improvement is improvement of one’s mind, character and health.
• Self improvement is not a rigid science. Many ingredients can be blended to produce a variety of self improvement dishes. Some random occurrences coming along the course of our life such as painful life (loss of job, loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a natural disaster destroying all your possessions) or life threatening illness improves ourselves.
• Self improvement is not just improving your mindset. It also involves improving your body and physical state. The mind and body are intertwined and both affect each other. Therefore, self improvement ideas should focus on both aspects.

Who needs self improvement?

Everybody needs self improvement. Every person aspires to have a better, successful and fulfilled life. Self improvement is one of the tools that attains this goal. Every person is unique. Each individual has thousands of facets of his life that could or need to be improved.

What are the results of self improvement?

The results of self improvement is inner stability, personal development, self confidence, self appreciation and self esteem. Knowing that knowledge is power leads people today to increase, in secret their abilities, like acquiring better conversational skills, to get promotion. Each individual must take the reins of his future and control his destiny. Self improvement helps people to achieve his goal or accomplish his vision.

What does require self improvement?

It requires perseverance, patience, practice, thirst of knowledge and commitment. Just knowing what to do by reading books or attending seminar or listening to tapes will not give any results unless you choose to practice what you learn. Starting to buy or to subscribe to any self improvement program or to talk or to articulate what we should do is just the beginning but the main thing and the real test for us is to commit ourselves to practice what we preach or read.

What are the kinds of self improvement programs?

Self improvement involved many aspects of our life such as:

- how to boost your self confidence?
- how to get rid of depression?
- how to realize our goals?
- how to get a happy marriage?
- how to lose weight?
- how to sleep better?
- how to improve memory?
- how to get wealthy?
- how to manage people?
- how to control anxiety attack?
- how to speak in public?
- how to be a leader?
- how to live longer?
- how to overcome fear?
- how to get charisma?
- how to eliminate bad habits?
- how to exploit your brain’s unlimited power?
- how to find true happiness?
- how to organize time and space?
- how to live an abundant life?
- how to have a positive thinking?
- how to be a negotiator champion?

Daniel RANDRIAMANANJARA invites you take action today to improve every areas of your life by setting up a membership account for $1 at http://www.self-improvement-here.com/simdollartrial8.html. Download your free Ebook about Exercise Without Effort by clicking this link http://www.self-improvement-here.com/

Author: Daniel Randriamananjara
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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5 Good Questions About Self Improvement is a post from: The Apostate Blog

Even if one can perceive an event through the five senses, mind and intellect but the reason behind it is beyond the gross intellect of mankind, it still constitutes a spiritual experience.

1. Spiritual experiences related to the five Absolute cosmic elements

Progress in our spiritual practice activates our sixth sense and we begin to get experience of the Absolute cosmic elements progressively, beginning from the most gross to the most subtle, i.e. Absolute Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether elements through our subtle sense of smell, taste, vision, touch and sound respectively.

2. Spiritual experience and spiritual level

• With higher spiritual level, we get higher and more subtle spiritual experiences.
• A particular spiritual experience may or may not indicate a particular spiritual level but may also happen due to intense spiritual practice, being in the company of Saints, etc.
• Sometimes ghosts (demon, devils, spirits, etc.) can create illusionary spiritual experiences in an individual in order to frighten him/her. Such subtle experience happens without the rise in spiritual level of the targeted person.
• All persons at a particular spiritual level will not necessarily perceive same spiritual experiences. The spiritual level of a person is the net function of many attributes, 6th sense being only one of them.
• A person may attain Sainthood (i.e. the 70% spiritual level) without once having perceived through the five subtle senses. One of the reasons could be that this person has already had these experiences in the past life and does not need them now.

3. What is the importance of spiritual experiences?

3.1. Generation of belief and faith in the theoretical aspect of Spiritual science

When one undertakes an appropriate spiritual practice based on the basic principles of Spiritual science, one makes spiritual progress and gets spiritual experiences. Spiritual practice bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge obtained from books and spiritually experiencing it which enables one to develop faith in the theoretical knowledge.

3.2. Awareness of spiritual progress

Spiritual experiences confirm that seekers have adopted appropriate spiritual practice. Getting progressively higher spiritual experiences confirm spiritual progress. Spiritual experiences act like milestones and encourage us on our spiritual journey. Suppose we were to discontinue our spiritual practice, we may not continue to get spiritual experiences. If we were to stagnate in the spiritual practice, we will not get higher spiritual experiences. By stagnation in spiritual practice, we mean doing the same spiritual practice year after year, without increasing it qualitatively or quantitatively. This is God’s way of telling us that we have to augment our spiritual practice further.

3.3. Reduction of ego by impressing the greatness of God

Reduction in ego is a primary requisite for spiritual growth. The narrations of the spiritual experiences of the co-seekers in variety and depth make us realise how insignificant one is, as compared to God who gives each one of us unique spiritual experiences to generate faith. As a result, one’s ego about one’s own abilities gets reduced when compared to God’s ability.

4. Why is it that sometimes we do not obtain spiritual experiences despite spiritual practice?

Spiritual experiences are indicators of our spiritual progress. However our spiritual progress may not begin as soon as we begin spiritual practice. The reason for this is that our spiritual practice may be utilised to reduce the intensity of our severe destiny (i.e. destiny that results in experience of unhappiness) instead of solely for spiritual progress. As a result, spiritual progress does not occur initially and hence we do not get spiritual experiences. However persistent spiritual practice enables us to overcome this initial phase.

To develop faith in God or when our faith begins to waver, to fortify it God bestows spiritual experiences. If our faith is strong then we may not require spiritual experiences.

More: http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/miscellaneous/spiritualexperiences/

Author: Sean M. Clarke
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Spiritual Experiences – Milestones In Spiritual Practice is a post from: The Apostate Blog

Surveys show however, that despite the few religious extremists mentioned above, religion and spirituality play a central healthy and stabilizing role in the lives of 80% of the world’s population (more than 5 Billion people) in human experience today. The religious and spiritual dimensions of culture are repeatedly found to be among the most important factors that structure human experience, beliefs, values, behavior, and illness (Browning et al., 1990; James, 1961; Krippner and Welch, 1992).

Holy War

On September 11, 2001 at 5:30 a.m., (Hawaii- time), I was abruptly woken by an excited radio announcer frantically stating that two airplanes had just attacked the Twin Towers in New York City. Still half asleep, and not sure if this was some kind of sick joke or not, I decided to get up and turn on the TV, instead of hitting my snooze alarm button. After seeing the smoke pouring out of the severely damaged buildings on every major television channel, I was still in shock and disbelief. My wife and I had just a year ago taken a tour in the magnificent twin tours and had walked on the rooftop that I was now watching collapse to the ground in seconds.

Most of us tend to associate the term, “Holy War,” with the Muslim religion because of 911. The media has made us aware that Muslims have a religious duty called “Jihad” that requires that their men go to war to defend or spread Islam if the situation warrants it and if they are killed they are guaranteed eternal life in Paradise. Jews, Christians, and many other religious groups have also historically gone to war over religious ideals or as the situation warranted. Religious/ ethnic cleansing “holy wars,” or crusades can be read about in Jewish history in the Old Testament, and Christian history (Roman Catholicism), along with Islam’s history recorded in the Quran. Mohammad, like King David and many of the Roman Catholic popes were not only the most powerful religious leaders in their cultures, but they were also the military leaders of their religious armies. For example, the Crusades were a group of Holy Wars between Muslims and Christians that was believed by some to be started by Pope Urban in 1905, to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslim Turks.

Our present day global war on terrorism however is not a war against those whose faith is in the common Muslim religion. The individuals that have been thus far identified with the terrorist acts of 911 and throughout the world have all been associated with an extremely rigid, intolerant and militant religious fanatical sect of Islam with similarities to the “Christian” cults started by David Koresh and Jim Jones.

In spite of the fact that we commonly hear the old phrase, “All roads lead to Rome,” or all religions lead to God, when some folks attempt to briefly discuss spirituality and religion, it’s hard to imagine why we would have six-thousand years of religious wars if it was possible to reconcile the vast complex differences of our world’s religions. The one common denominator and maybe the only unifying factor among all of the world’s religions is their unanimous view on mankind’s fallen condition – that man has not, is not, and will not live in harmony with his God or Gods, unless he is saved from his present (e.g., sinful, ignorant, and/ or unenlightened etc.) condition by either working towards salvation or is saved by some other means of grace or enlightenment. At the great risk of starting another Holy War (just kidding) by attempting to summarize my limited knowledge of all “Spiritual Truth” and simplify a very complex topic for those who can’t seem to find the time, energy, or motivation to seek out this knowledge for themselves, I would like to put this comprehensive topic on the shelf for a moment to first address those individuals who are struggling with a much more basic question: Am I presently a believer in anything spiritual/ religious?

Spirituality & Religion (Definitions)

Most individuals have difficulty with defining the meanings and differences of the words – Spirituality and Religion. Walsh, F. (1998), defined spirituality as an overarching construct that involves personal beliefs or values that provide a sense of meaning and unity with nature and the universe. He reported that it often includes a supreme being or force that unifies and guides the universe and that it may be experienced within or outside formal religion. Carlos, P.G., (2002), states that spirituality refers to the unique and intense experience of a reality greater than oneself or an experience of connection with the totality of things and that religion is an organized social structure in which spiritual experiences are shared, ritualized, and passed on to future generations. You don’t need to have a spiritual experience to be religious. Likewise, you don’t need to be religious to have a spiritual experience and spiritual growth is not dependent upon being a member in a religious organization.

The term “spirituality” has been defined by some authors as that which gives meaning and transcendence to one’s life and it often includes many different expressions to include prayer, worship, meditation, interactions with others or nature, and relationship with a higher power or God. Spirituality comes from the root word “spirit,” or in Latin – spiritus. The Bible in Genesis chapter 2, verse 7, reports that, “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” The word “spirit” is defined the same in every culture as “breath of life or life giving energy.” Spirituality is primarily concerned with whom or what ever is the energy or center of our lives. It is closely related to our values, beliefs, priorities, preoccupations, and goals that give meaning to our existence (Why do we wake up each morning and decide to continue to live on? What lights up our life or what are the “loves” of our life? What are we enthusiastic about?). Strategies must be used to first assist individuals to discover and evaluate their present values and beliefs to determine if their behavior has been in conflict with their spiritual focuses (Where is there spirit focused?), and if not, how well have their spiritual focuses helped them to meet their needs. Spirituality implies a connectedness to humanity and deity through an unconditional love of self and others that ultimately brings peace, wellness, and resiliency in crisis situations. Spirituality deals with the innermost relationships we have with ourselves, others, and God.

When considering a change in our spiritual focuses the existence of a power greater than our selves or “God” must also be contemplated (Who or what is sitting on the throne of your heart and influencing and determining your ultimate decisions in life?). C.S. Lewis – one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century once stated:

“If man is not allowed to worship a king, he will kneel before movie stars, athletes, and even prostitutes. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature will not be denied. Deny it sustenance and it will gobble down poison.”

Renewed spirituality provides a new foundation for all of our decisions and relationships that will necessarily help us to develop a new lifestyle, simply because what is most important to us has changed. Kurtz, E. (1992), reports that the benefits of spirituality or spiritual health include humility, inner strength, sense of meaning and purpose in life, acceptance of self and others, sense of harmony and serenity, gratitude, and forgiveness.

Religion on the other hand can be defined as any system of belief that submits itself to one Supreme Being or many deities with adhered to practices (e.g. prayer, meditation, fasting, etc.) typically documented in Holy Scriptures or texts (e.g. Bible, Koran, Torah, etc.) Religion is merely giving worth to what we value the most in life or worth ship or worshiping – typically with others through a more structured organization to express our individual beliefs with actions and others. Religions are organized systems of worship and faith. The fact that religious organizations and institutions have arisen throughout history to meet spiritual needs is evidence that humans have a spiritual dimension that thirst to be filled. Simply put, religion is mans’ attempt to reach God through organizations that practice ritualistic codes of worship.

Following are some characteristics that distinguish spirituality from religion:

Spirituality:

1. Individualistic, 2. Subjective, 3. Informal, 4. Emotional, 5. Inward directed, 6. Unaccountable,
7. Spontaneous

Religion:

1. Community Focused, 2. Objective, 3. Systematic, 4. Behavioral, 5. Outward Directed,
6. Authoritarian, 7. Doctrine Oriented

Spirituality and Religious Backgrounds

Sometimes it is helpful to assess where we are spiritually by taking a look at our religious backgrounds. A mature Army Chaplain once told me that part of his work involved assisting soldiers’ in making religious/ spiritual assessments. He told me that spiritual fitness is vitally important to soldiers’ effectively functioning and sustaining their performance in times of stress, hardship, and tragedy. He stated that spiritual growth develops the personal qualities that form the basis for decision-making, integrity, and character. He reported that most soldiers have religious histories that fall into one of the following three religious background categories:

1. No Religious Preference – These individuals may have had no religious training or exposure to formal religion. Some have never seen the inside of a church, but may have some limited family history of religion. Others may have had some religious teaching as a child, but they do not identify with any religious group or organization at this present time.

2. Positive Religious Background – These individuals’ past experiences with spirituality and religion may have left a positive lasting impact upon their lives. They may have spiritually strong parents or parental figures in their lives that have continued as supportive role models. They may have either drifted from their faith as children or have had an adult conversion experience exhibiting real personal faith at present.

3. Negative Religious Background – These individuals may have “spiritually shutdown” as children because of various incidents in which there families forced a rigid, legalistic, and/ or spiritually abusive religion upon them. They may have been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused by members of their church’s leadership staff or have known others that were. They may have observed religious groups fighting and have a mindset that all religious people are hypocrites and are poor examples of what they preach. They may feel that God has let them or someone they loved down by not answering their prayers in a time of real need.

This chaplains’ primary role was to provide pastoral care to soldiers’ and their family members. Part of his work involved helping soldiers’ look at religious stumbling blocks to understanding spirituality as a new concept in their life. The category that you find yourself in can give you some guidance as to whether you need to:

1. Start seeing life as three-dimensional: physical, emotional, and spiritual, and develop spirituality as a new concept;

2. Start reinforcing your prior spiritually healthy religious background experiences; and/ or

3. Start reframing your previous spiritually abusive or unhealthy religious background experiences by seeking pastoral counseling and therapy.

This next section is for those that may be seeking out their spiritual dimension for the first time and are curious about how 80% of the world’s population practices their religion. Keep in mind that this is a very brief summary of the world’s religions and that it is by no means all- inclusive.

Spirituality and Religions of the World

According to David Barrett et al, editors of the “World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions – AD 30 to 2200,” there are 19 major world religions. In the year 2000, eight of these major religions had approximately 80% of the world’s population adhering to their beliefs. Agnostics and atheists account for approximately 19% of the world’s population and the rest of the world’s religions including Judaism make up the last 1%.

Christianity – 33%

Islam – 20%

Hinduism – 13%

Buddhism – 6%

Chinese Folk Religion – 4%

New Asian Religion – 2%

Animism – 2%

Agnostics/ No religion – 15%

Atheists – 4%

The Baha’i Faith, Confucianism, Jainism, Judaism, Shaminists, Shinto, Sikhism, Spiritism, Taoism, Wicca, and Zoroastrianism religions make up less than 1% of the world’s religious population. There are many, many other significant spiritual/ religious organizations with much fewer members in the world, that could also be included in the last 1%, but they are too numerous to mention in this short summary.

Most of the worlds’ religions do not fit neatly into little boxes, however (not counting the atheist and agnostic groups) they can be theoretically divided into six categories:

1. Monotheistic Religions – The doctrine or belief that there is only one God:
(Example: Sikhism and the Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.)

2. Polytheistic Religions – The worship of or belief in many Gods or Goddesses: (Example: Hinduism, Shintoism, etc.)

3. Non-theistic Religions – The belief or faith not in God or Gods, but in supreme enlightenment: (Example: Buddhism)

4. Pantheistic Religions – The belief that God and nature are one: (Example: Taoism, Animism, etc.)

5. Dualistic Religions - The belief that there are only two opposing Gods or two interacting forces: (Example: Zoroastrianism/ Taoism Yin/ Yang etc.)

6. Polyreligiousity – Having beliefs in multiple religion simultaneously (Example: Chinese Folk Religion/ New Asian Religions that combine Confucianism/ Buddhism/ Shintoism)

Spiritual/ Religious – Assessment

The need for the evaluation and assessment of our spiritual concerns has been well documented and recognized by many authors (Conrad 1985, Moberg 1982, Byrne 1979, Gartner 1991, Larson 1991, Moberg 1965, Poloma 1991). Despite documented history of research devoted to the psychology of religion, it should be noted that it took the American Psychiatric Association Committee approximately 42-years to recognize spirituality as a human dimension to be assessed for religious / spiritual problems. It wasn’t until 1994, that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals’ Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), included an entry entitled “Religious or Spiritual Problem” (Steinfels, 1994), intended to encourage mental health professionals to view patients’ religious experience more seriously. This diagnostic category was proposed for the DSM-IV as “Psycho-religious Problems Not Attributable to Mental Disorder,” to delineate those distressing experiences of a religious or spiritual nature that are the focus of psychiatric diagnosis or treatment, but are not attributable to a mental disorder (Lukoff, Lu, & Turner, 1992, p. 677). In the DSM-IV-TR (2000), this entry is listed on page 741, as V62.89, in the chapter entitled, “Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention.” It states, “This category can be used when the focus of clinical attention is a religious or spiritual problem. Examples include distressing experiences that involve loss or questioning of faith, problems associated with conversion to a new faith, or questioning of spiritual values that may not necessarily be related to an organized church or religious institution.”

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has also set regulatory requirements for the routine assessment of spiritual needs of all patients (2001). Spiritual concepts, ideas, and relationships are integral to all levels of care, and to a certain degree, even transcend each level of care; nonetheless, they are difficult to define acceptably in objective, behavioral, and measurable terms. Spirituality is implied in all dimensions and is in all levels of care, and certainly is inherent in the Twelve Step philosophy. Likewise, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM), “Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, 3rd Edition, 2003,” spirituality is absolutely inherent in the comprehensive bio-psychosocial multidimensional assessment, treatment, and continuity of care for substance-related disorders. ASAM’s 3rd Edition has set the standard in the field of addiction treatment for recognizing the totality of the individual in his or her life situation. This includes the internal interconnection of multiple dimensions from biomedical to spiritual, as well as external relationships of the individual to the family and larger social groups.

In order to assess the spiritual dimension of man, it is helpful to understand some of the causes of spiritual/ religious problems. Some individuals are just plain confused about what they believe the “truth ” to be for them. For others, their spiritual and religious values may be conflicting with their personal goals for success and personal satisfaction. Some struggle with making personal commitments to their beliefs, while others have turned their backs on what they know is true and may feel guilty over their actions. Still others feel deeply committed to their beliefs, but their words and actions are not congruent with their beliefs in that they realize that they do not express a loving attitude toward others. Many believers feel defeated by their inability to change their behaviors due to their internal conflicts and the stressors of everyday life. Some get frustrated because their spiritual growth seems so slow and others are concerned that their prayer and worship activities are performed more out of habit instead of the joy that once motivated them. Many feel that their prayers have gone unanswered because they continue to suffer from chronic sickness, disease, poverty and/ or trauma or have raised their children in the faith only to watch them develop alternative lifestyles.

Spirituality is also one of the key concerns of dying patients that needs to be assessed. It was cited as integral to the dying person’s achievement of the developmental task of transcendence and important for health care providers to recognize and foster (Highfield. Mudd, Millson 1992): “The physician will do better to be close by to tune in carefully on what may be transpiring spiritually, both in order to comfort the dying to broaden his or her own understanding of life at its ending”(Leighton 1996). Some spiritual identifiers that one could assess in patients in the last month of life are: 1) is there purpose to their life as they suffer, 2) are they able to transcend their suffering and see something or someone beyond that, 3) are they at peace, 4) are they hopeful or do they despair, 5) what nourishes that sense of value of themselves: prayer, religious commitment, personal faith, relationship with others, 6) do their beliefs help them cope with their anxiety about death, with their pain, and with achieving peace. Finally, one needs to assess how well the patient’s spiritual needs are being met: 1) do the health care providers listen to their beliefs, faith, pain, hope or despair, 2) are they able to express or develop their spirituality through prayer, art, writing, reflections, guided imagery, religious or spiritual readings, ritual, or connection to others and God.

So how can we assess the spiritual dimension of man? What resources are available for mental health clinicians? Although there is increasing recognition for the vital role of spirituality in the lives of many clients, there are relatively few quantitative assessment instruments that have been developed.

It appears that the study of spirituality and religion in mental health will continue to blossom in the future as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in 2005, has set regulatory requirements for the routine assessment of spiritual needs of all patients. JCAHO is the feared civilian and military hospital accrediting agency that inspects hospitals and carries the ultimate threat of shutting down hospitals that do not comply with their standards. Per the recent 2005, PC.2.20, EP 4 standards and elements of performance (EPs) found in the “Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services” (PC) chapter in the accreditation manuals, JCAHO requires organizations to include a spiritual assessment as part of the overall assessment of a patient to determine how the patient’s spiritual outlook can affect his or her care, treatment, and services, and/ or whether more in-depth assessments are necessary.

Since the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has set regulatory requirements for the routine assessment of spiritual needs of all patients (2001), I would also like to propose the following spiritual/ religious screening instrument:

BMIS

This spiritual/ religious screen is a brief set of questions for healthcare providers, clinicians, and those interested in self-help to ask. For quick and easy remembrance, this practical spiritual assessment is based on the acronym – BMIS (referring to Body Mass Index screening – that most primary care physicians are already accustomed to when evaluating overweight and obesity in their patients).

B – Background: What is your spiritual/ religious “background”? Have you had a positive or negative experience with religion? Do you have a spiritual/ religious preference now?

M – Meaning: What gives you the most “meaning” or purpose to your life at this time? (e.g., career, family, school, God, etc.)

I – Importance: How “important” is spirituality and/ or religion to your successful recovery and treatment plan? (e.g., extremely – very – not very – not important at all, etc.)

S – Stress: Are spiritual and/ or religious issues a cause of “stress” and conflict or a “source” of comfort for you? Would you like to talk to a religious counselor and/ or spiritual advisor (e.g., pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, etc.), about these issues?

Qualifying Note: This article was not written and should not be viewed or considered to be a formal theological treatise on spirituality and religion. It is merely a simplistic introduction to these topics to reveal how critical they are to the addiction recovery process with the hope of assisting individuals to reassess their values, and reexamine their priorities to redefine what is really important in their lives. My intent is not to persuade, influence, convince, or convert anyone to my personal beliefs. My goal is to help others to clarify and identify where they presently stand at this point in time, so that they can consider charting a course to get from where they are to where they desire to be someday. After all, you cannot make flight reservations if you don’t know what airport you will be departing from.

For further information:

http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581122101

[http://www.booklocker.com/books/1966.html]

http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581125399

References: Aday, R. “Belief in Afterlife and Death Anxiety: Correlates and Comparisons,” Omega, 1984 18:67-75 Allport, GW and Ross, MJ “Personal Religious Orientation and Prejudice,” J of Personality and Social Psych 1967, 5(4):432-443 Batson, CD and Schoenrade, PA. “Measuring Religion as Quest: 1) Validity Concerns,” J for The Sci Study of Religion, 1991 30(4):416-429 Batson, CD and Schoenrade, PA “Measuring Religion as Quest: 2) Reliability Concerns,” J for The Sci Study of Religion, 1991, 30(4):430-447 Belcher, AR et. al. “Spirituality and Sense of Well-Being in Persons With AIDS,” Holistic Nurs. Pract. 1989, 3(4):16-25 Bergin, A. and Jensen, J “Religiousity of Psychotherapists: A National Survey,” Psychotherapy, 27:3-7 Burkhardt, M. “Spirituality: An Analysis of The Concept,” Holistic Nursing Practice, May 1989 :60-77 Byock IR. Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index (version 25S). VITAS Healthcare Corp, 1995. Byrne, JT and Price, JH “In Sickness and In Health: The Effects of Religion,” Health Education 1979, 10:6-10. Chambers, LW et. al. “The McMaster Health Index Questionnaire,” J Rheumatology 1982, 9:780-784 Clinch, JJ and Schipper, H. “Quality of Life Assessment in Palliative Care,” The Challenge of Palliative Med, p. 61-70.

James Slobodzien, Psy.D., CSAC, is a Hawaii licensed psychologist and certified substance abuse counselor who earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He is credentialed by the National Registry of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He has over 20-years of mental health experience primarily working in the fields of alcohol/ substance abuse and behavioral addictions in hospital, prison, and court settings. He is an adjunct professor of Psychology and also maintains a private practice as a mental health consultant.

Author: James Slobodzien
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Spirituality 101 (Part 2 – Religion) is a post from: The Apostate Blog