Reflections on coping in difficult times

These are stressful and anxious times for many of us. We all struggle with the challenges of family, occupation, and our finances, all while attempting to cope with grim headlines from around the world. I would like to offer a few words from my role and experiences as Supervisor of Spiritual Care at Valley Health System.

Let me begin with a few words of caution: we cannot grit our teeth and muscle through hard times.

Instead, we must acknowledge our limitations, be open about our vulnerabilities, and seek help and support. We are all in need of healing and all capable of bestowing healing upon others. No person, regardless of how capable, hardworking, or intelligent, can be successful without the support of a loving community.

Valley’s Spiritual Care Department looks to lessen someone’s burden by beginning with the premise that all humans have an innate spiritual capacity. This manifests itself in our need to make sense of and draw meaning from our experiences. We need to be in relationships with other people, with a sense of community, or with the transcendent, and we all seek joy and relief from stress and suffering.

For most people, having a visit with a calm, kind, receptive person is automatically therapeutic in that it helps them to feel seen, heard, and valued. I encourage you to reach out to a struggling friend or family member. Listen to them and it will help them identify key areas of strength and connection, as well as salient themes and guideposts in their personal narratives.

The Spiritual Care Department provides spiritual and emotional support to help patients and families of all faiths – as well as those not identifying with any specific belief system – find meaning, courage, and hope. Should you need Valley’s healthcare services, know that these spiritual services will be available to you.

Our world is so complex and each of us can sometimes feel so small. Our aim in spiritual care is to lift up the immeasurable value in each human experience. Even when you feel powerless or adrift, know that you are special and that you are loved.

For more information about spiritual care at Valley, please click here.