After doing about 20 years of personal research on the effects of faith on the human's psyche and self growth, participating in a variety of religious activities from different religious backgrounds, talking with people from different doctrines and reading on the subject, I have come to notice that like anything else, faith in a balanced form could be a positive, and in some ways essential, trait for humanity. However, it could also have the potential for becoming counterproductive if it is used as blind faith or ignorance.
Having faith means having a strong belief in a doctrine based on spiritual wisdom, awareness and knowledge. Some may have it in a form of a specific religion while others may have it based on a combination of different modalities of religion, wisdom, knowledge and in the form of spirituality. Having faith is defined as believing in a form of absolute that gives a more profound meaning to the person's life. Such a belief, if based on awareness, can bring about a sense of trust, hope, security, love, strong value system, tolerance and compassion which will not only benefit the individual, but also his/her surrounding. On the other hand, if such belief is creating too much fear, guilt, shame, restrictions, limitations, intolerance and a sense of grandiosity in thinking that one group's belief is better than another, then the faith's dose may need to be re-examined and modified.
When it comes to faith, the question is if having faith is enough. Faith is like anything else in life, having it is one part of the whole picture. If you have it but then your behavior and lifestyle are continuously going against it, it will create inner conflict instead of inner growth. Therefore, self-reflection is important. Some questions you may ask yourself to evaluate your faith:
1.What is my faith?
2.Where did I get it from? Is it based on a superficial imitation or deep awareness?
3.Is my faith rooted in fear and anxiety, or love and connectivity?
4.Are my actions and lifestyle in congruent with my faith?
5.Does my faith need modification to make me more confident?
6.Do I have any outdated belief that is not serving me right and needs change?
7.Does my faith help me be more productive and positive?
8.Does my faith help me be more tolerance, compassionate and responsible?
9.Does my faith help me be mentally, physically and emotionally healthier?
10.Does my faith help me have healthier relationships based on depth, not superficiality?
11.Does my faith help me feel content with life instead of being needy and greedy?
12.Does my faith help me feel more liberated without anxious attachments?
13.Does my faith help me move out of my comfort zone if it does not fit my inner growth?
And then you can look at some signs that your faith is healthy and nurturing to your heart.
1.When your faith gives you reassurance by informing you rather than giving you a feeling of uncertainty based on misinformation. Red flag here is when your belief makes you feel guilty about asking why or having a critical mind.
2.When your faith gives you a sense of hope that is not a false hope but a valid one. This hope is not an excuse to avoid life, but a way of taking a break from fixations to specific outcomes and not pushing things too hard or too quickly. When you put reasonable effort into something and let your faith take charge of the rest, life becomes easier and flows more naturally. Red flag here is when your faith becomes elusive.
3.When your faith encourages you to explore and evolve your sense of self rather than making you fearful of exploring life and taking responsible risks. Red flag here is when your faith imposes fear as a base of functioning.
4.When your faith helps you bring about a balance between your rational and your intuitive sides. Red flag here is when becoming a logical thinker is discouraged.
5.When your faith gives you a positive feeling of global compassion and empathy for all rather than conditioning you to have unjust views toward those who may seem different on the surface than you. A healthy belief gives you a feeling of inner calm, joy, universal love, tolerance toward differences and compassion for all living things. Red flag here is if your belief is making you feel any form of anger, hate, resentment, repression, judgmental tendencies or close mindedness. Or, if it makes you be selectively tolerant, meaning that you have tolerance for what fits your belief but not the rest. The other red flag is if your faith gives you a feeling of being separated from other beliefs rather than finding a way to connect.
6.When your faith gives you a tool to consider your life with awareness, to disperse resistance and to accomplish the work. When it helps you be clear with your motives and intentions. When it helps you clean any dark corners of your shadow. Even if you need an expert help with this which many of us do, the faith will still be a positive factor. Red flag here is a faith that makes you experience negative emotions toward others and the world, rather than positive ones.
7.When your faith helps you become modest, patient, rational, fair and generous. Red flag here is if your faith is making you radical, fixated or extremist, or when you have a need to impose it onto others.
At the end, to have more faith, learn to listen to the messages all around you, using your senses fully, pay attention. Be aware that every decision you make and every action you take, directly and indirectly, affects another. Think long about your choices, look for its long term consequences and learn not to be impulsive. Learn what is worth holding on to and what needs to be let go of. Learn to listen and connect to your higher self rather than functioning based on your ego's feelings and thoughts. Leap into the future without regret with a healthy respect for your past and any grief attached to it. Move forward, explore new horizons, take some risks, avoid the temptation to look back with regret and don't return to your comfort zone once you have left.
Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD
Self Knowledge Base & Foundation
A non-profit dedicated to public education
www.SelfKnowledgeBase.com