Research Shows that Prayer/Meditation Works
A. Studies have shown a correlation between healing and improved mood and prayer, positive thoughts, and meditation/yoga....for the praying person, the recipient of the prayer, and even those around someone praying/thinking positive thoughts.
B. Going to a calm place such as the beach or woods and getting out of your stressful environment and other people and focusing on the here and now, nature (including touching nature-plants/sand) improves your blood pressure, feelings of stress, thinking~planning, and overall feeling of well-being
C. Prayer changes things...it's a form of meditation and centering and calling out onto a higher power-spirit for intervention/guidance...reminds us that there is something bigger out there than ourselves. Perhaps, this is why AA is one of the most effective group interventions out there.
D. Forgiving ourselves and others heals us
E. Going deeper heals us---there's a deeper life within us and out there than purchases, impressing people, focusing on ourselves, and videogames/Farmville
F. Find a church, synagogue, Buddhist temple, speaker, book to help your spiritual development
Dr. Matthew Clark
The Clark Institute
www.theclarkinstitute.com