Spirituality for Caregiving and Chronic Illness
Independence. Autonomy. As much as you may enjoy charting your own course in life, you may also discover that there is value in the notion of interconnectedness. I like to do my own thing, but I have also come to appreciate the many people, ideas, and things to which I share connection.
Whether you consider yourself religious or not, caregiving and chronic illness soon leads you into inherently spiritual terrain. A crucial term related to this scenario is relational spirituality, which suggests that strengthening one’s relatedness to other people and to sources of interest beyond self-interest produces joy and vitality, which sustains the capacity to care.
Sure, not all people produce this effect. But, long term isolation ultimately proves to have a negative impact on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The problem is that prolonged sickness and caregiving dominate our energy and our thoughts to the point that we essentially develop blinders to only see our difficulties.
So, we take a chance. We engage in spiritual practices learned from others. We discuss, disagree, and discover in community. Sometimes, our spiritual exercise takes the form of service and encouragement to people in need. The forms and methods are many, and they are important.
One of the quickest routes to better thought and mood is to consider the lives of other people. Rising above self-interest and into the realm of receptivity to the people around you moves you in the direction of relational spirituality. You slowly become more open than closed as you remember that we’re all dealing with something most of the time. Naturally, there remains ample room for solitude in spiritual expression. But, interacting with others creates a more whole experience and serves as a catalyst for becoming more gracious.
Worth Repeating
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor.
-Tara Brach
