The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life

People have devoted energy to spirituality throughout history. Science often considers this a wasted effort. However, new research has been showing the way that religion and spirituality provide mental health benefits. There is also a strong relationship between spirituality and depression. Being spiritual can help counteract the negative of depression. There also seems to be a genetic aspect to spirituality.

The concept of spirituality can be vague. It does not necessarily correspond with going through the motions at church. It involves living and experiencing the selflessness. There is also a difference between focussing on the goal-oriented nature of achievement versus submitting oneself to the spiritual. The first can lead to depression that one has difficulty overcoming on your own, while a belief in a higher power helps to provide more positive outcomes.

Related to spirituality to book discusses the importance of letting people express their feelings and think for themselves, even if that is not the clinical norm. There is often very different diagnoses for the same person by different professionals. Sometimes it works best to set back and let people work through problems themselves. Even if they provide unscientific explanations, these may be the helpful answers they need.