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Matters Of Faith
The World Mental Health Day was commemorated on Thursday under the theme “Mental Health at Work”.
The day is celebrated on October 10 every year. Mental health is suffering in the modern era.
While there are probably many causes of this, workplace stress is a significant contributor to mental health disorders.
People are working more than ever before, wages are being suppressed, and quality of life has plummeted because of the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
You must stay mindful of how your work can affect your mental health, and if it all becomes a bit too much, do not hesitate to seek solutions.
As Christians, we have many practical solutions that can offer us the strength and guidance we need in our most challenging days at work.
There are many reasons work can affect the mental health of a person. Not least of which is that taking a break or leaving work to look after your well-being can threaten your and your family’s livelihood.
Aside from that, the high-paced and unpredictable nature of today’s work environment can result in commonly experienced issues in the workplace, including:
Burnout
Burnout is the experience of complete physical and mental exhaustion at work, usually as a result of an intense workload.
Unpleasant relationships with co-workers
Oftentimes, workplace anxiety exists as a result of troubling experiences with team members or bosses. Bullying behaviour, harassment, or unwanted sexual advances can make entering and working in an office a traumatising experience.
Pandemic-related stress and uncertainty
The impact of Covid-19 cannot be understated in terms of its effect on workplace stress. Pressure to return to the office or stay working from home is negatively affecting people in various ways. Not to mention the economic depression of wages, the increasing cost of living, and significant concerns about medical health and the related costs.
Mental health and Christianity
As Christians, we have a broad range of spiritual tools and comforting principles and ideas.
You have to find like-minded people to provide with work-related mental health support when stressed at the workplace.
You only need to look as far as the Bible to find a selection of comforting verses that offer quick encouragement when your work environment becomes overwhelming.
Take this powerful verse from the book of Isaiah, for example:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
As Christians, we need to keep in mind that we are always under the protective eye of the God so long as we are living according to his will.
What other ways can elements of the Christian faith help us on our journey toward a healthy workplace?
Spiritual methods for improving mental health in the workplace
Let us look at four spiritual strategies you can use to better your mental health.
Prayer
Prayer should be your number one spiritual remedy for any workplace mental health challenges you face, and indeed many other problems you encounter in life.
When we pray, we are in direct communion with God, and he can provide essential strength, comfort, and counsel when we need it most.
Learning how to pray in accordance with the six foundational principles of prayer is a good way to make the most of your sacred communication with God.
God invites us to have a personal relationship with him through prayer, and you would be missing out on a truly abundant source of personal strength and resilience if you did not maintain a regular practice of prayer.
Bible reading
How astonishing it is that a book as old as the Bible can provide timely and relevant words of advice about modern-day problems. It can help you with a challenging company culture, a lopsided work-life balance, and contemporary mental health conditions like anxiety disorders.
While you are just as likely to find words of comfort by flicking to a random page, there are Bible verses on personal strength that are well-suited to those struggling with burnout at work.
Across its vast pages exists a plethora of stories, hymns, and verses describing the ways in which our ancient religious heroes overcame physical, mental, and spiritual challenges through the power of God and the Holy Spirit.
Church visits
A core part of Christianity, and one of its most welcome and uplifting features, is the powerful community of Christians worldwide.
We have a responsibility as God’s children to help each other out in times of stress and uncertainty. One of the ways we can do that is by attending church and being in communion with each other.
Church is a place where we can gather and receive guidance from religious experts like priests and pastors, hear sermons, and speak with one another about our problems.
Meditation and mindfulness
While not an explicit part of the Christian doctrine like prayer, meditation and mindfulness allow us to focus on what is essential and quiet the hum of anxiety within us.
orking will always carry some element of stress, given its crucial importance in our lives.
Like with any other challenge we will face, we can turn to the fundamental Christian principles of prayer, scripture reading, church, and community to provide spiritual resolve.
And if your workplace stress refuses to subside, you can seek the help of mental health professionals or participate in mental health programmes. They can help you properly conquer your anxieties surrounding work and get back to your healthy, productive self again. – pray.com
Online Reporter