The Science of Spirituality: How Connecting with Something Greater Protects Your Brain and Body
We often think of spirituality as something personal, emotional, or even abstract. But what if your spiritual life actually rewires your brain, strengthens your immune system, and protects your mental health?
That’s exactly what groundbreaking research by Dr. Lisa Miller, professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, has revealed. Her studies show that spirituality isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s a powerful health practice that builds long-term resilience and well-being.
Gut Health + the Mood Connection
If you've ever felt "butterflies" in your stomach when nervous or had digestive issues flare up during stress, you've already experienced the gut-mood connection in action.
But this relationship runs far deeper than most people realize. Your gut and brain are in constant communication — and the health of one directly impacts the other. When your gut is imbalanced, inflamed, or lacking good bacteria, it can mess with your mood, energy, mental clarity, and even your ability to handle stress.
The Power of Being Held: Why High-Touch Support Changes Everything
You’re the one everyone leans on. You’re the caretaker, the strong one, the one who figures it out.
You’ve learned how to keep going, even when you're exhausted. You’ve done your own research. You’ve tried to fix your symptoms. You’ve pieced together plans from podcasts and posts.
But here’s the quiet truth: Even the strongest ones need to be held.
And healing — true healing — is so much easier when you’re not doing it alone.
Journaling: An Essential Part of Healing
Sometimes we all need to be called out on our B.S. Anyone who is familiar with doing the work knows that we can't always see through our own stuff - especially when we just leave it in our mind to marinate!