Link Found Between Religious Belief & Recovery

Cardiac patients who have a strong religious faith have greater confidence in their ability to perform tasks and complete their rehabilitation, according to a pilot study presented at the 09/02 annual meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. One of the researchers, Chris Boyatzis said, we have sort of this interesting link between the patient's religiosity and their confidence to function. "The more religious they were, the more they improved. The more religious faith they had, the more faith they had in their own ability to complete tasks and to function." Mike McCullough, an associate professorof psychology at the University of Miami, whose research includes the effects of religious beliefs on human health and well-being was not surprised. He said several studies have made similar findings with other patient groups. The other researcher in this study, Tim McConnell concluded, "maybe there needs to be a spiritual intervention of some type." "How we would do that, I don't know, but maybe that has to become part of what people are presented with during their recovery process." What these researchers clearly do not understand is that a persons religious beliefs are who they are, not what they do as a treatment program.

The Bottom Line

Lifestyle and a focus on what you want your life to be like as opposed to fear of what you want to avoid in your life can make the difference between comfort and discomfort as well as life and death. A healthy lifestyle produces a healthy person and religious beliefs are a perception that focuses one's attention on what is wanted instead of on what isn't wanted with enough emotion of joy and happiness to actually get it. Get it?