Spiritual Resilience in the CAF
From: National Defence
Not all of us believe in a g/God, so why talk about spiritual resilience in the CAF?
Spirituality is a part of our overall well-being. It is what gives us purpose and direction. It is at the core of who we are, why we believe we exist, and why we do what we do. For military members, it is often linked to why we joined the CAF, a deep sense of calling to serve our country.
Military operations and garrison activities can be very demanding and stressful. The unique circumstances of military life can subject us to an array of hardships and exposures that may cause spiritual struggles.
What is Spiritual Resilience?
Do an online search and you will find there are many definitions for spiritual resilience. Some are founded on a connection with a Higher Power, whereas others are based on one’s positivity and inner fortitude. Fundamentally, these definitions express the same thing: spiritual resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, i.e. stress, hardship or tragedy, and transform the experience of suffering into something meaningful.
Having spiritual resources, such as but not limited to a strong sense of belonging, a shared positive outlook, faith, hope, compassion, and a sense of gratitude, can increase spiritual resilience and improve overall health and well-being. (‘Nurturing Spiritual Resilience to Promote Post-disaster Community Recovery: The 2016 Alberta Wildfire in Canada’)
Spiritual Health and Well-Being Continuum
Understanding ourselves is the key to building spiritual resilience. The following self-assessment can be used to identify where we are at in our spiritual health and well-being .
Figure 1 - Text version
| Level | Optimal | Sustained | Reduced | Distressed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I have an established sense of meaning and purpose | I am exploring my sense of meaning and purpose | I am losing my sense of meaning and purpose | My life has no meaning or purpose |
| 2 | I have established morals, core values, and beliefs | I am questioning my morals, core values, and beliefs | I am losing my morals, core values, and beliefs | I have no clear morals, core values, and beliefs |
| 3 | I am filled with hope about my life and future | I have hope about my life and future | I have very little hope about my life and future | I feel hopeless about my life and future |
| 4 | I can easily forgive myself | I am capable of forgiving myself | I struggle to forgive myself | I am unable to forgive myself |
| 5 | I can easily forgive others | I am capable of forgiving others | I struggle to forgive others | I am unable to forgive others |
| 6 | I respect other people's values and beliefs | I acknowledge other people's values and beliefs | I do not accept the values and beliefs of others | I do not respect the values and beliefs of others |
| 7 | I have enriched positive relationships and an established sense of belonging | I have positive relationships and a sense of belonging | I have few positive relationships and lack a sense of belonging | I am isolated and have no sense of belonging |
| 8 | My world view, and/or what I believe is sacred, is secure | My world view, and/or what I believe is sacred, has been challenged | My world view, and/or what I believe is sacred, has been weakened | My world view, and/or what I believe is sacred, has been shattered |
| 9 | I thrive and grow from inner conflicts/struggles | I am able to function in the face of inner conflicts/struggles | I have difficulty coping with inner conflicts/struggles | I am consumed by inner conflicts/struggles |
If we are in the “REDUCED” or “DISTRESSED” zones, it is time to recognize that we need extra support. It is important to plan our spiritual care. Like self-care, spiritual care doesn’t just happen on its own. And that care may look different for each person. Reading the best practices below can help us identify those that work best for each of us.
Best Practices
The following are some practices that can strengthen our spiritual resilience. Everyone is different, so let’s pick what works for each of us.
Mindfulness:
In difficult situations, we tend to adopt routines that feel like we are on autopilot. This means we can be caught up in our thoughts in ways that make us lose sight of the direction we are heading in the midst of all the emotions we experience. Mindfulness trains our capacity to be discerning and fully present in the moment (our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, as well as our environment and relationships) while also integrating the ethical and compassionate aspects of our lives. Many different tools for mindfulness can be explored through apps or online.
Prayer or Meditation:
There are various ways and reasons to pray or meditate. Essentially, praying is our communication with something or someone that we believe is bigger than ourselves. We may pray to petition for help in times of trouble or for help in obtaining guidance in times of uncertainty. Some pray as a means to express their gratitude for positive outcomes that were beyond their control, while others pray as a means to lament circumstances that are beyond resolving on their own. Simply put, praying is recognizing we don’t always have what it takes within ourselves to meet the challenge we are facing.
While meditation is often used for religious/spiritual purposes, many people practice it independently of any religious or spiritual belief. Meditation can be described as a set of techniques that encourage a heightened state of awareness, and has many benefits on well-being, such as reducing stress, decreasing distractibility and promoting calmness.
Many online resources and apps for various spirituality or wellness exist to help us develop our own method for prayer or meditation.
Spiritual/Faith Groups:
Belonging to a Faith Group can have a very positive impact on building spiritual resilience, as it can connect us to a community of support. They can also offer us spiritual readings, rituals and practices to deepen our understanding of our beliefs. Although we may not always be able to attend faith group services in person, we can still access many online.
Available Support
Part of being strong and strengthening our resilience is knowing when to rely on others. Military service may affect us at a spiritual level, to our core, and it is important to acknowledge it. We are never alone. Here is who we can share this with:
Chaplains
When it comes to spiritual resiliency in the context of military service, chaplains are our go-to people for us to share what we are experiencing. They can journey with us and be a great source of support while providing helpful tools. Contact your unit chaplain or your formation/ base/ wing chaplain team to learn more about the religious/ spiritual services they offer.
Sentinels
A Sentinel is a peer ready to listen to us and who can help find the support we need. There are Sentinels in Regular Force and Primary Reserve units, some are identified with badges. Asking your unit chaplain is the best way to find them and learn more about what the Sentinel Program has to offer.
Mental Health Team and The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP)
1-800-268-7708
The various Mental Health teams across the country are available to us. They have medical expertise to help us care for our mental health and can treat emotional disorders and/ or mental health issues.
CFMAP also offers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, confidential, voluntary, short-term counselling to assist with resolving many of today’s stresses at home and in the workplace.