22/05/2020
Importance of Psycho-Spiritual Therapy and Counseling during COVID-19 Pandemic 3
COVID-19 outbreak affects us physically, mentally and Spiritually. The spiritual effect is being neglected. If our physical exam benefits our physical bodies, our regular spiritual checkup is also important. To work at optimal efficiency, our spiritual lives need regular fine-tuning. In our spiritual lives, symptoms that something is wrong may go unnoticed but affect our lives in negative ways. In the same way, a physical exam helps to ward off serious sicknesses, a spiritual checkup enables us to have better quality of life as well. The COVID-19 pandemic offers us the opportunity of taking a new spiritual journey. There are no COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns for this journey.
Indeed, without any visa needed, regardless of national boundaries, COVID-19 has traveled all over the world to remind us that we are a global community or a small village. COVID-19 has changed the lookout towards each other in our global community. For Prof. Addiss (2016), "Global health embodies a spirit of interconnectedness and it recognizes the need for global cooperation to solve these problems ". The "Divine " is the spiritual force that binds everyone together irrespective of our beliefs. Let us strive to live out a fulfilled spiritual life by transforming COVID-19 era into an opportunity as goes the adage: " Don't waste a good crisis ".
Spirituality, according to Christiana Puchalski et al. (2009), " is that aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred ". The story was once told of a famous inventor whose laboratory blew up. When they asked about the bad in the situation, he replied, "Good, all my mistakes have been erased". Another adage goes: " A person's perception is his/her reality". The COVID-19 pandemic can be seen as an opportunity rather than just a mammoth challenge. The void of loneliness created by social distancing that is becoming the new normal can be filled by our spiritual life-building. Let us look at the ways that we use our time alone. This time can also be focused on the spiritual disciplines in our lives such as prayer and meditation.
According to some research, meditation helps people feel calmer and more relaxed. It can reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Meditation is nothing more than being alone in silence with yourself and letting your awareness go to the place where peace and joy are eternal. So "Don't waste a good crisis ", COVID-19 pandemic.
Rev. Fr. Sylvestre Kiche ( Psycho-Spiritual therapist and Counselor).
