Latest news with #hope
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
2 Ways Religious Beliefs Can Impact Your Well-Being, By A Psychologist
What if religion isn't the problem or the answer in itself, but the relationship you have with it ... More is? Here's how belief impacts the brain and body. When life feels uncertain, everyone needs something to hold on to; a hope that things will get better, or perhaps the belief that you're part of something greater than yourself. That something is often faith: a steadfast trust that things will work out, even when you can't yet see how. And, hope is the emotional fuel that can keep you moving forward, no matter how heavy the present may feel. While both faith and hope can feel like mere abstract ideas, religion can make them tangible for many. This can be through rituals, stories, community and a sense of being held by something greater. Religion offers structure to believe in and a source of meaning. An April 2025 study explored the relationship between religiosity, religious orientation and sleep health. Researchers specifically looked at the roles of anxiety and depression, which are two key indicators of mental well-being that are also closely tied to sleep. Researchers collected data from over 200 adults (both religious and non-religious), using questionnaires and two-week sleep diaries. They assessed whether participants identified as religious and how they related to their faith. This relationship was understood based on whether they saw religion as a deep life purpose, a means to an end or an ongoing spiritual quest. The results reveal how deeply our beliefs and the emotional states they generate can influence both mind and body. Here are two ways religious beliefs can impact your well-being. 1. Religious Belief Can Ease Anxiety And Help You Sleep Better Sleep is often thought of as a solely physical need. However, it can be quite deeply tied to your emotional world, especially to experiences of anxiety. You may have noticed that when your mind is restless or racing, your sleep can suffer. In fact, it's quite common for people to find themselves caught in a trap of overthinking late at night. Ikea conducted a large-scale global sleep survey with over 55,000 participants. The results showed that 11% named 'overthinking' as a major barrier to sleep, alongside stress (17%) and anxiety disorders (12%). As your sleep suffers, so do many other aspects of your mental health, such as your mood, focus, energy and even emotional regulation. Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being. In the April 2025 study, researchers found that religious individuals reported significantly lower levels of anxiety compared to non-religious participants. Anxiety didn't just coexist with poor sleep, but mediated the relationship between religious belief and sleep health completely. Being religious was linked to better sleep because it was linked to lower anxiety. This held true for both sleep quality and sleep efficiency. However, depression didn't play the same role. The impact of religious belief on sleep was about how calm and secure a person felt inside. Based on these findings, the real power of religious belief might lie in its ability to quiet mental overactivity. This could be through prayer, surrender or a sense of divine protection. Religion has the ability to offer a kind of emotional anchoring that may help ease emotional spirals or internal restlessness that can disrupt sleep for many. So, when the mind is calm, the body can rest. This study is a reminder that faith, when rooted in emotional safety, can be more than just spiritual. Religion, or any other form of faith that can help soothe your inner chaos, might just be the key to deeper rest. 2. How You Relate To Religion Shapes Its Impact When we think of religious beliefs, it's important to remember that they can look different for everyone. For some, it's a quiet personal truth. While for others, it's a ritual passed down through generations, or merely a space to ask deeper questions about life. The April 2025 study didn't just look at whether someone was religious. It also looked at how they related to their faith. This is what researchers referred to as 'religious orientation.' They explored three key orientations: The study found that how one relates to their faith significantly influenced their mental and sleep health. Researchers found that participants who viewed religion as an end in itself experienced lower anxiety and reported better sleep quality and efficiency. On the contrary, those who saw religion as a quest — as an ongoing, questioning approach to faith — experienced higher anxiety. This, in turn, was linked to poorer sleep efficiency, as well as to decreased sleep quality. These effects were all mediated by anxiety. This means that the emotional state influenced by one's relationship with religion played a key role in shaping sleep outcomes. This study highlights that belief isn't always comforting by default. It's a truly supportive factor when it feels more personally meaningful and emotionally settled. While doubt and questioning are natural parts of any spiritual journey, when they linger without resolution, they may actually add to mental strain. Let this be a reminder to reflect on how you engage with your faith and whether it brings clarity or confusion. This can be an important step not just in your spiritual life, but in your overall well-being. Faith And Fear Can Change The Way You Experience Life Faith can offer inner grounding in a world of chaos. When anchored in genuine trust, it can change the way you move through life's challenges and help soften fear. Remember that fear, in essence, is just faith turned inside out and an inner belief in things going wrong. So, when fear drives your thoughts, religion or any sort of inclination in faith can provide belief in possibilities. This shift alone can change not just how you feel, but also what you're able to choose and create in your life in any given moment. In the long run, this shift can change everything. A fearful mind only narrows your vision and convinces you that your options are limited, even when they aren't. When led by fear, you may stop looking for solutions because you've already decided none exist. But faith has the power to allow you to see what can be done, and pay attention to how things can work out, even if not right away. That said, while it may be tempting to use faith as a constant emotional safety net, you must remember not to let it become a form of bypass — or something you reach for just to avoid discomfort. True faith can help you be prepared to meet life with strength and softness alike. Wondering how your sensitivity to anxiety might be shaping your perspective and sleep? Take this science-backed test to find out: Anxiety Sensitivity Test
Fox News
18 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Transferrable Faith
In a world filled with stark division, there are guiding lights on how kindness, community and hope can restore severed relations. Minister, podcast host and mom of six, Farrell Mason is one of those lights. Trey revisits a conversation with Farrell on how faith and humility are fostered through understanding, community and the possibility of a better tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
News24
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Senior Oat opens up about financial struggles - ‘I just want bookings'
Senior Oat's soul-stirring melodies once lit up the airwaves, resonating deeply with fans who found solace in his music. His 2022 anthem 'All in You' became a beacon of hope for many. So, where has the talented artist been? After a long period of being quiet, Senior Oat recently broke his silence, bravely sharing a candid post on his Facebook page about his financial struggles and how difficult it has been for him to score gigs or bookings, sparking widespread concern. Read more | 'It represents healing' - Cici opens up about her new album Mafadi 'Albert' Mogale, popularly known as Senior Oat, is a South African deep and soulful house music producer and DJ from Limpopo. He rose to fame in 2022 with his hit single 'All in You' featuring Kemy Chienda, a song that took the nation by storm. Speaking with Drum, he opened up about the harsh realities of the industry, his journey, the emotional toll of his struggles, including the lessons he learned along the way, and what's next for his career. How are you feeling given your circumstances and challenges? I'm okay, and I'm hopeful that everything will work out, so I can safely say I'm fine. This has been ongoing for quite some time, but I just didn't expect it to escalate this quickly. I thought I had it under control. 2022 was my biggest year with the 'All in You' single, and I thought that was my breakthrough, but after that, things started going south for me. I haven't been getting gigs or bookings. We were and still are begging for bookings. What made you take the hard decision of posting about your financial struggles? I was just hit by the reality of how things have turned and decided to pour my heart out. I didn't even tell my manager that I was going to post that, but it was just my emotions. I woke up one morning, I think it was around 3 or 4 AM, and I posted that as I asked myself if I bottle this, how long will I be able to do that? Rather, I ask for help because people won't know if I keep quiet. I poured my heart out on that post, then I went to sleep. When I woke up, it had garnered a lot of reactions from people than I had imagined, and many were sharing it. I'm not looking for donations or financial handouts. And this is not because of pride or anything, but just my work ethic. I want to work for my comeback doing what I love, and I have no problem with people getting donations, but I would prefer putting in the work, and that would be achieved by getting gigs. As a deep or soulful house DJ, do you feel like the industry has shifted in a way that's making it harder for artists in your genre to get bookings? In my opinion, the deep house community almost feels like a 'cult', I'm saying this in the sense it's not too saturated but here people know people, they know each other and when there's gigs, they book each other based on their relationships, and if you don't have any connections, you will not get bookings. Additionally, most deep house DJs don't view my music as deep house, and I think that's where the problem is. They don't think I make music worthy of being labelled as 'deep house,' according to them. There was even a debate on my music, as they say or call my music 'deep house lite,' and maybe in their eyes, I'm diluting what they've been working hard to achieve for this genre. What do you think artists need to do to stay relevant in today's music industry, especially when it comes to bookings? After the 'All in You' era, I haven't released that much music, and I also think that was due to the pressure I was getting back then, it was too much as people expected my next album or single to do similar or even better in numbers than 'All in You,' and I think I let fear and the pressure consume me back then, yes I still released music, but not better than 'All in You'. I think for anyone to get bookings or consider getting booked, you need to have more music out there. But for you to stay relevant, you must not be scared to be different and be who you are. Don't get pressured by the rising numbers of artists, but instead make sure you find your niche and master it. And not everyone's going to be a fan of your music, but make sure to take care of your supporters by giving them music that will feed their soul, and that's how you will stay relevant. What are some of the lessons you've learnt in the industry? One of the many lessons I've learned is not to be too trusting in this industry. You can work with someone for 4 - 5 months, and they'll betray you in the 6th month. Also, it hit me amidst all this that I haven't been taking my career as a 'career.' I just took it as a hobby and that's what got me here now. I'd give out favours because I trusted and knew people, they would just come to me when they were hosting shows to ask me to perform at their events and promise to pay me, and I'd take their word because I know them, but when it's time to pay, they'd not deliver on their end of the bargain. Now, I've decided to take my career as seriously as it is and have limitations to the favours I give out, because when you're going through the darkest of days, you're alone. Do you have any new music or collaborations on the works currently? Yes, I have a new EP single coming out this Friday called 'The purge,' and then an album slated for late September. During the creative process of my EP and the album altogether, the overarching theme of forgiveness has been a guiding force in this process and work. I have learned to forgive, heal, and move on, and I have poured all my heart and soul into my upcoming projects. Do you have any message of hope to anyone going through a hard time? In my 2022 single 'All in You,' I say, 'When I look into the mirror, it's Your grace I see, it's Your mercy I see, it's Your love I feel. To anyone going through something, do not give up. Faith is very important. Always keep your eyes fixed on God. Continue doing what you love but keep God in mind. And if you have a dream, chase it, for as long as you've dreamed about it, you can achieve it with hard work and God by your side.
News24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘It represents healing' - Cici opens up about her new album
Oupa Bopape After overcoming abuse and experiencing a tragic accident that left her pelvic bone broken, she thought she would not be able to conceive. But she did, and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Through her music, she has been able to share her story of hope and resilience and has become the face of healing and hope. Award-winning, platinum-selling singer Cici, real name Busisiwe Thwala (38), returns with a new body of work titled Busisiwe 2.0. She describes her style as 'genre-defiant and spiritually charged,' and pours out her heart in the 14-track project. Among many of her favourite artists, she features award-winning newcomer Naledi Aphiwe in the single Konakele as well as Boypee and Hyce from Nigeria, Mimi Marz from Tanzania, and local talents Zuko, Mthunzi, and rising star Kite, to name a few. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cici #Amen#HambaJuba#Thula (@ciciworldwide) Read more | Kelly Khumalo claps back at Advocate Teffo over Senzo Meyiwa case - 'Enough is enough' 'This album is a return to self,' says Cici. 'A deep breath after the chaos. A prayer whispered in gratitude. A loud affirmation of who I am and where I come from.' Cici released her album Busisiwe in 2017 under the record label Ambitiouz Entertainment. At the time, she said it was a significant body of work reflecting her journey with themes of love, heartbreak, and resilience. She has since left the label. Cici says this project shows how far she has come and reflects her growth as a woman of faith as she shares her vulnerabilities in song. 'Busisiwe 2.0 is not a rebirth, it's a returning to self,' Cici says. 'It represents healing, elevation, and bold expression. I've collaborated with artists I admire deeply to create something that is truly African, truly honest, and truly me.''
ABC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
John Boyne, Maggie Stiefvater and Laura Elvery on hope, enemy diplomats and Florence Nightingale
John Boyne concludes his challenging series The Elements with Air, US writer Maggie Stiefvater takes you to a luxury hotel for enemy diplomats in The Listeners and Laura Elvery imagines Florence Nightingale on her deathbed in Nightingale. John Boyne is the prolific Irish author of over 20 books including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The History of Loneliness and The Heart's Invisible Furies. His latest writing project is a series of novellas called The Elements with the books Water, Earth, Fire and now, Air. The four books are all connected by the difficult theme of child abuse with the latest - and last - instalment ending the series on a note of hope. John shares why this is personal territory for him and why he's found strength in talking about it. The Listeners is the first adult novel by American author Maggie Stiefvater who has made her name as a successful writer of young adult fiction. The Listeners is set during World War Two in the Blue Ridge Mountains in America's east, when luxury hotels were turned into detention centres for diplomats from Germany, Italy and Japan and where prisoners were cared for and served by American hotel staff. Maggie also shares her life as a rev-head! In her debut novel Nightingale, Brisbane author Laura Elvery takes on the iconic 19th century figure of Florence Nightingale who revolutionised nursing in the blood bath of the Crimean War. Laura has fictionalised Florence on her death bed at 90 when there's a knock on the door. The novel follows Laura's award-winning collection of short stories called Ordinary Matter about the few women who've have won Nobel Prizes for science.
