I have been davening every day for more than 60 years. I started these daily prayers when I was around 10. I found the prayers to be very comforting and helped keep me on an even keel.
When I was 12 ½ and I was given tefillin (phylacteries) by my grandmother(their daily donning is not required until one is 13 y old [bar mitzva]. Yet, you get them early so you can be totally familiar with their intricacies by the time they are required to be worn.
When I got married and my wife bought me my tallit (another tradition of the religion), it was added to my daily ritual of prayer.
Well, it turns out that I am not the only one that finds these rituals put me at ease each day.
Dr. David DeSteno (Northeastern) has been studying religious practices and has found this very fact to be true. In particular, he has found that religious practices augment our emotional and physical well-being. And, the actions- whether one truly believes in the ritual- still promote our physical and mental well-being.
DeSteno is a psychologist who has been studying these practices. Because he wants to understand generosity, empathy, resilience, among other attributes. When one gives thanks to a person (or to the Supreme Being), the process helps folks be more honest and generous to others. Meditation over a period of time helps folks be more compassionate to others.
DeSteno is adamant against adopting “isms” (organized religion or organized atheism). (He takes issue with many religious beliefs that end up justifying horrendous acts of violence and abuse.) One of his “cute” explanations is that we don’t have to understand the development of technology to use it. After all, most of have nary a clue how microchips work, but are content to use them in our cell phones.
Moreover, the link between faith and alleviation of anxiety has its nexus at the anterior cingulate cortex. This is sometimes called the alarm bell for us, it’s where activity is recorded when we are annoyed, threatened, or manifest anxiety disorders.
Yet, by declaring an act special, we make them meaningful. (Lighting a candle in the dark does nothing; lighting a candle on Friday night to bless the incoming of the Sabbath is a meaningful ritual.) It’s because rituals seek to bring about changes, they regulate our beliefs and behaviors; its how they help us experience joy, manage pain, and develop resilience from painful losses.
If you are as intrigued by these findings as I am, you may want to glom a copy of DeSteno’s book.
I majored in cultural anthropology and it’s interesting that every culture we studied, all over the world, had rituals and some form of religion. It’s almost like we as a species knows we need rituals and meditation/prayer for our mental health and well being.
Thanks for sharing that- I didn’t know!