How religion can help you in your daily life

Whether you believe in God, or simply embrace the spiritual aspects of your life, religion plays an important role in many of our lives. Religion doesn't just give us rules and guidelines for how to conduct our lives, it also has science backed health benefits. Here are just 3 of them.

Religious people are happy

People who are religious or spiritual in some way are happier than people who aren't. There have been a number of studies conducted on this, and those studies have found that happiness is non-denominational, and not specific to a particular religion. 

 More Self Esteem

Happiness isn't the only positive feeling that comes along with nurturing your spiritual side. Those who involve themselves in some kind of religion also tend to have higher self esteem than those that don't. This however, only applies to those who live in countries where religion is held in high regard. 

Protects against anxiety and depression

People who engage in religious activities have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than people who are non-religious. They also cope with stress better. In fact some religious activities, such as prayer or meditation, can reshape the brain for the better.

Many of these benefits come from the support and community that religion offers. Most religious communities are happy to extend a helping hand during difficult times, such as the loss of a loved one, a job, or other stressful events. It's always comforting to be able to turn to someone, and a support network is an invaluable tool in these cases.

If you've been thinking about getting in touch with your spiritual side, let these facts encourage you. Religion is a wonderful way to find a community of like minded people, and explore the possibilities of your mind and the world around you.