A recent article on “social prescribing” caught my attention. Perhaps this is a societal andedote to loneliness promoting that we’re often at our best when we’re together. In my mind, this is an extension of Jesus’ teachings calling us to love one another.
Take a moment to check in with yourself on how deep your connections are to others in your community?
The central tenet of “social prescribing” is an approach to health that centers on getting involved in your community. Whether you’re taking a group exercise class at a studio nearby, volunteering in your neighborhood garden or joining a group focused on furthering a cause you care about, social prescribing is all about deepening connections to our fellow humans to improve our mental and physical health.
I love how science actually validates what Christ has been telling us for over 2,000 years!
Author Julia Hotz, who wrote a book on social prescribing, identified “five pillars” to help find solutions and the “right prescription”: Movement, nature, art, service and belonging. To find activities that might slot into these pillars, Hotz suggests asking questions like, “If I had two extra hours in my day, what would I spend them on? What makes me lose track of time?”
These seem to me some of the foundational elements of living a contemplative lifestyle that cultivates the Spirit of presence. This also demonstrates the need for both contemplation and action in our lives.
A balanced life is living life to its fullest!
Smitten With Goodness 