Non-Material Realities

This post comes in a series where I’ve been considering spirituality’s connection to ultimate meaning.

Previously I’ve written about how the good can give us meaning and purpose. Hence the good and spirituality are intimately connected.

So, when the good seems to avoid us, this can be a challenge to our spiritual health. We can begin to tell ourselves stories about how the Truth about reality is actually negative. It then becomes necessary for us to re-invent our vision of reality if we want to regain a healthier perspective.

“We all encounter and engage non-material realities that can have effects on our health and wellbeing.”

All this assumes we all encounter and engage non-material realities that can have distinct effects on our health and wellbeing.

While this may seem mysterious or a bit scary, in reality it’s not.

We don’t see our emotions or our thoughts. But our emotions and thoughts have very concrete effects on our bodies and wellbeing depending on how we handle them.

What motivation to pay attention to them, then!

Meditation practice teaches us not to hold onto, cling to, or repress our thoughts and emotions. This is because our thoughts and emotions have lives of their own.

I’ve been hinting at this when I’ve written about how our perceptions create the realities we experience. But, when we pay attention to them, we can see our thoughts and emotions behaving in strange and wonderful ways.

One thought leads to another, or it brings up memories that are difficult to deal with, or we start ruminating on things that happened years ago.

When we hang onto these thoughts and feelings, this can affect our interactions with ourselves and others. We can start feeling down on ourselves. And then, because we’re feeling down on ourselves, we become grumpy with our spouse, children, or co-workers.

So, the anger and frustration we’re feeling about ourselves draws anger and frustration out of those close to us.

“Non-material realities have a profound effect on us and on those around us.”

These non-material realities thus have a profound effect not only on us, but on the wellbeing of those around us.

What happens when whole neighbourhoods, cities, or countries become captured by anger, fear, frustration, or despair?

Here are five questions to help you reflect upon the non-material realities in your life:

1. What are some of the memories or thoughts that are often near to you? Why do they come to you so often?
2. How do they typically affect you when they come?
3. When the come to you, what do you do with them?
4. What helps you to release your thoughts or memories?
5. Do your thoughts or memories return? If so, what do you do with them? If not, why not?

If a person begins to have thoughts or memories that are overly intrusive, it may be necessary to consult with a qualified mental health professional.

In the meantime remember, you are not your thoughts, feelings, or memories. There is so much more to you that you need not be controlled by the non-material realities.

What a reason to live hopefully!

References

Beauregard, M. and O’Leary, D. (2007). The spiritual brain: A neuroscientist’s case for the existence of the soul. Toronto, ON: Harper Collins.

Bourgeault, C. (2004). Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening. Lanham, MD: Cowley.

Lasair, S. (2019). A Narrative Approach Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Health Care. Journal of Religion and Health [Online First]. https://rdcu.be/bSZY3

Trungpa, C. (2018). The future is open: Good karma, bad karma, and beyond karma, edited by C.R. Gimian. Boulder, CO: Shambhala.

Wilber, K. (2016). Integral meditation: Mindfulness as a path to grow up, wake up, and show up in your life. Boulder, CO: Shambhala.

Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions offered on this site are not substitutes for consultation with qualified mental or spiritual health professionals. The perspectives offered here are those of the author, not of those professionals with whom readers might have relationships as clients or patients. In crisis situations, readers are encouraged to contact these professionals for appropriate support and treatment if needed.