Spiritual Strength for the Journey

The diagnosis of heart failure can challenge you to develop or deepen your spiritual strength for the journey of living with an ongoing illness. This is a time when it is important to have a sense of your own abilities and strength. Spirituality refers to that inner part of us that provides meaning and purpose to our lives. It also gives us a sense that we are not alone and that we are connected with God and others. Spirituality helps us achieve a sense of hope, peace and comfort with ourselves and others and gives us the courage to struggle through hard times.

Spiritual strength through our connection with God
A strong connection with God can help in times of illness and suffering. Each person strengthens their connection with God according to their own personal beliefs and values. Religious beliefs and practices may help. The spirit can be strengthened by many everyday practices:

	Nurture your ability to sense God’s presence in the form of others helping you.
	Know that God cares for each of us and can seem close during illness.
	Pray and ask for strength. Ask Him to walk this path with you.
	Find and use what inspires you to feel connected to God or your beliefs: books, music, nature, children, pets, religious services or rituals, or projects.
	Sometimes it is hard to pray or sense God’s presence. It is alright to feel angry or confused sometimes. Others can help when this happens.

Spiritual strength through our connection with others
Relationships with others can strengthen the spirit. Feelings of brokeness and aloneness that are sometimes a part of chronic illness can be lessened by reaching out to make connections with family, friends, church, temple, community and nature:

	Trust that all life is connected.
	Allow others to help and support you. Although you alone do it, you need not do it alone.
	Many everyday events and practices such as talking to friends and loved ones, looking at nature, reflecting on the sacredness of life, and caring for ourselves and others can strengthen the spirit.
	Seek out those who help you spiritually: family, friends, your chaplain/rabbi/spiritual leader or your nurse.

Spiritual strength through our connection to ourselves
Caring for yourself strengthens your spirit. This patient education guide gives you information and ways to help you strengthen your physical body. Your spirit also needs care. You have within you the ability to sense what you need and provide that care.

Take time to reflect on your life: your goals, values and wishes. Think about what you have done and what you want to do. Make plans to do what you can do.

	Use the wisdom you have gained in your lifetime to care for yourself. Hope is always there.
	Do what needs to be done. Take control of your care. Plan to do what needs to be done to strengthen your physical, emotional and spiritual self.

The following three exercises have been designed to help you focus on your spiritual strength. You may find them helpful.

The exercises may also be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download it free from Adobe.

Spiritual life survey

Comfort

Letting Go

A List of Interfaith Spiritual Resources

Prayer:

George Appleton, The Oxford Book of Prayer (1985)

Michelle Edwards, Blessed Are You: Traditional Everyday Hebrew Prayers (1993)

The Holy Bible

Farnaz Khoromi, Islamic Daily Prayers Manual (1997)

Mother Teresa, A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations (1975)

Meditation:

Keng Ming-Dao, 365 Tao: Daily Meditations (1992)

Bill Pitman, 12 Step Prayer Book (1990)

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (1994)

Various spiritual practices:

Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, et al, Journey to the Lord of Power: A Sufi Manual On Retreat (1990)

Kephra Burns and Susan L. Taylor, Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives (1997)

Sara Shendelman, Avram Davis, Traditions: The Complete Book of Prayers, Rituals, and Blessings for Every Jewish Home (1998)

James Melvin Washington, ed. Conversations With God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans (1994)

Philip Zaleski and Paul Kaufman, Gifts of the Spirit: Living the Wisdom of the Great Religious Traditions (1997)

Spirituality guides:

Joseph Louis Bernardin, The Gift of Peace: Personal Reflections (1998)

Friend in Recovery, 12 Steps: A Spiritual Journey (Tools for Recovery) (1994)

Jim Gallery, God Can Handle It (1990)

Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life (1992)

Spiritual wellness:

Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration (1979)

Margie Hesson, Health Yourself (Body & Soul—A Disciplined Approach to a Healthy Lifestyle) (1995)

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea (1955)

Wayne Oates, Nurturing Silence in a Noisy Heart: How to Find Inner Peace (1979)

Joyce Rupp, Dear Heart Come Home (1996)

Joyce Rupp, The Cup of Our Lives (1997)

Donald and Nancy Tubesing, Seeking Your Healthy Balance (1992)