As part of my continuing work with my Sabbatical Supervisor, even though the official "time away" piece of the Sabbatical has ended, I recently read a fascinating article on the power of positive emotions.

In a study undertaken by Epidemiologist David Snowden, 678 aging nuns who had been asked to write a personal essay about why they came into the order, at their time of entry. Years later Snowden found that those whose writing expressed a preponderance of positive emotions (happiness, love, hope, gratitude, contentment) tended to live longer and have more productive lives. In fact those with the highest number of positive-emotions sentences had half the risk of death at any age as those with the lowest number of such sentences. 

The same article also noted that just as we have to exercise physical muscles to keep them healthy, the same is true with our emotional muscles. One of the greatest resources for exercising our emotional muscles is regular engagement in an absorbing, enriching, enlightening activity. Such activities might include singing in a choir, gardening, playing a sport. Conversely surfing the net or watching TV may actually have the opposite emotional effect. Prolonged television watching has actually been found to cause increased anxiety and low-level depression.

By exercising our emotional muscles we allow them to be renewed so that when we do encounter stressful and challenging situations we are better able to cope. Throughout his Ministry Jesus experienced many difficult times, conflicts, violent opposition, betrayal. Yet he also took time to withdraw and pray. Lately I have rediscovered the value of a daily sitting practice of meditation and prayer. For me this practice enables me to feel more grounded as I go into my day and face whatever might lie ahead. I invite you to discover your own emotional exercises, not just for your own health, but for the health of the planet.