#Coachingreflections : 01

Religiosity and their effects on mental health have been scientifically studied for many years [1]. It is interesting to see that both positive and negative effects have been observed in the literature, most often connected with an individual either having 'positive' ('a loving/forgiving god') or 'negative' (a hateful/punishing god') religious beliefs.

I come across unproductive/harmful Islamic beliefs quite often with my coaching clients. Although I'm not a theologian nor a psychologist, questioning certain religious beliefs with my clients is something I regularly do. Not because I step outside of my field of expertise so easily, but rather that their "faulty/unproductive" beliefs are often very easy to rebuke. 

An example I encountered recently was while reflecting on a very physically and mentally challenging period a client just went through. Although this period was extremely hard for the client (believe me... It really was pretty terrible!), he looked back with satisfaction in that he coped very well with the severity of the situation.

He felt strengthened with this experience and he said that he was excited to see how he was going to perform during the next 'big and negative tribulation that was coming'. When asked why he was so sure and almost eager for this next big tragedy to happen, he explained that 'Allah/God tests his strongest subjects with the hardest trails'. The problem with the believe that the natural path for trails and tribulations was to systematically increase in ones life is that I saw the possibility of him starting to 'work towards(creating) a problem or him starting to believe that hardship, pain and negativity was a sign of his success, hard work and progress.

This is a belief I often encounter in Asian clients, they perceive physical/mental hardship as a measure of how hard they work or how successful they are. The concept of feeling good whilst being productive/successful is sometimes almost foreign to them. To challenge this idea of 'the amount of discomfort i'm being faced with is a reflection of my success', I pointed out the course of the life of Prophet Mohammed SAW and his companions. The biggest tribulations and discomfort they endured where not necessarily at the end of their lives. A proof of this can be found in the verse

"...Those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting before the Victory cannot be equated (with those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting afterwards). They are higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards..." (part of 57:10 Quran) .

In this verse it is made clear that the early companions where in more difficult times than the companions who became Muslim in a later period. Challenging the belief that his discomfort or tribulations depicted the amount of success he had, how hard he worked or the status he had with Allah/God, created a state of mind where he could accept the idea that productivity and success also could feel 'pleasant', 'good' and 'positive'.

We (myself included) often think that our motivations and beliefs are rational, honest and productive. Having a coach that can challenge possible incorrect or irrational believes can be a real game-changer and relief.

Are you interested in improving yourself and to take a honest look at your performance and (mental, physical, spiritual and social) health behavior? Send me a message!

[1] https://campuspress.yale.edu/perspective/religion-and-mental-health-the-connection-between-faith-and-delusion/