We spoke to Jyoti, a Mental Health Activist and Founder of The Mind Body Spirit Studio to know why she recommends Spirituality and Psychology needs to be considered alongside each other in order to sustain mental wellness in an unequal world.
On 10 October 2022, we are all set to celebrate World Mental Health Day, which aims to make mental health and well-being a global priority. It becomes imperative to understand that “The level of spirituality and positive psychology coincides in 83% adolescents and 71% older adults, making these two elements; two sides of the same coin.”
Keeping this in mind, we spoke to Jyoti Kaundinya, who is all in for wellness and mental well-being, to shed some light on this approach towards mental well-being.
- Do you think spirituality and psychology are interconnected?
In my opinion, spirituality is a subset of psychology primarily because spirituality has a lot to do with connecting with the higher power, which isn’t possible without the mind stepping into the picture.
While most people would like to believe that “prayer” is the only form of expressing one’s spiritual side, I would like to state otherwise. For me, spirituality becomes a reality when prayer, yoga, meditation, being a part of spiritual service, and connecting with nature come together. And when I say so, I’d like to underline that performing these activities without putting your mind to them is next to impossible and irrelevant.
- Since you said yoga is a form of spiritual expression, can you share some insights on what makes you say so and how psychology pitches in here?
Being a yoga practitioner, meditation coach, and mental health activist for over a decade now and successfully running a yoga studio, I can confidently state that psychological stability can make or break one’s spiritual practice. The purpose of performing yoga asanas is to become aware of one’s nature and to observe thought patterns.
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Mental engagement is crucial to make this a reality. I would say through consistent practice of yoga, an activity of achieving spiritual health, you can develop a positive outlook on life, feel internally happy, and detach from unease. I’d conclude by saying spiritual well-being promises psychological solidity.
- Around 970 million people worldwide suffer from mental ailments like anxiety and depression. What coping mechanism would you like to suggest for anyone battling similar conditions?
From what I have read and researched, I can say that mental health-related struggles are different for different people. This is primarily because the cause behind mental ailments is never the same. While one person may be a victim of child abuse, the other may be suffering from prolonged exposure to stress. Irrespective of this, seeking relief is necessary.
In my opinion, meditation works best to cope with mental unease, discomfort, and stress. The idea here is to refocus your attention on something calming. It helps with feeling centered and attaining inner peace. Other ways of coping are connecting with people who make you feel good, breaking out of your shell, and seeking therapy when necessary. I’d say, just like we take care of our bodies, our mind needs attention and care too.
- The theme of World Mental Health Day 2022 is making mental health a global priority. Do you think spiritual alignment can help in this regard?
I feel that there is a spiritual side to each one of us. The only difference is that some of us are aware of this side, while most of us are consumed with the unimportant aspects of life like materialism, greed, envy, and unhealthy competition. If spiritual alignment and psychological peace are what we seek, there is no option but to keep negative thoughts at bay.
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I see, even today there is a lot of stigma around coming out with mental health disorders. People prefer to suffer silently than seek help because of a lack of societal acceptance and judgemental perceptions. If this is what needs to be tackled, then there is no better solution than making mental health a global priority. To a point where no one loses their life, prefers to live in isolation, or disconnects from everyone around.
- Tell us a little about your journey in the field of wellness.
My journey from being a brand consultant to a wellness coach has been nothing short of exhilarating. Self-love, connection with the Divine, and finding balance had always been my priority, but I never considered any professional angle here.
That said, I believe, things don’t happen to you, you create them, and you attract them toward you. I did something similar. My love, passion, and practice for mental wellness led to me walking on this beautiful path of mental wellness that I take pride in and own every second of.
Throughout the span that I am actively working as a wellness coach, I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse set of clients, each one of whom is dealing with a different form of turmoil. However, the journey we take together and the positive difference I see in their lives makes me admire my decision to pursue the role of a wellness coach, every single time.
Think Jyoti can help? Follow her on Instagram @jyotikaundinya or write to her at swastha@themindbodyspirit.studio for assistance.
