Monthly Archives: July 2025

McKinsey Health Institute finds that for a “modern understanding of health, spiritual health is not a ‘nice to have’ but a core dimension, along with physical, mental, and social health.”

They define spiritual health as having a sense of meaning and purpose in life, a connection to something larger than oneself, and a sense of belonging.

This is not a small problem affecting just a few. A recent Harvard study found that nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) report lacking “meaning or purpose” in their lives.

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index includes providing for spiritual health as one of the best practices for workplaces to benchmark.

For insights on addressing this crisis that adversely impacts workplaces and the rising generation of future workers, watch discussion with Patrick Regan, OBE. Patrick is an Honorary Fellow at the London South Bank University for his contribution towards justice and well-being. He has written several books, the latest one being Brighter Days: 12 steps to strengthening your wellbeing.

• – Email: hello@brighterdays.life
• – Website: brighterdays.life

This session will help you:

• — See the Role of Spiritual Health in the Workplace
• — Understand more about your own mental wellbeing
• — Look at the character traits of a resilient person/team
• — Explore the environment needed to allow people to flourish and grow
  

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Patrick Regan OBE, is founder of Brighter Days, Wellbeing & Resilience Training that helps your people flourish and thrive. Meet him at #Dare2Overcome

Patrick Regan OBE is an activist who is passionate about speaking on themes such as wellbeing , spirituality, and compassionate leadership. He has founded two award winning charities; XLP, a Schools and Community Charity which he ran for 22 years and pioneered Kintsugi Hope which has Wellbeing Groups all over the UK to help people in their emotional and mental health. He was awarded the London Peace Award by Boris Johnson for his work in the prevention of knife crime. He is a mental health first aider, a campaigner on issues of social justice and was awarded an OBE for his services to young people by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the London South Bank University for his contribution to Justice and Wellbeing. He is an accredited trainer of the Compassionate leadership course and recently was awarded CEO of the Year 2023 for mental health training. He has written 7 books on topics such as Justice, Gang Culture, Faith, Suffering and Courage.

His latest book is Brighter Days, 12 Steps to Strengthen your Wellbeing which reached number 2 on the Popular psychology charts on Amazon. He is married to Diane and has 4 children.

McKinsey & Co.’s Health Institute’s global survey of 41,000 people finds that spiritual health matters to many, regardless of age, country, or religious beliefs.

Spiritual health refers to a sense of purpose, inner peace, and alignment with personal and organizational values. When nurtured, it can enhance employee well-being, foster a more compassionate culture, and improve overall engagement and productivity. It’s not about religion, per se, but about creating space for meaning, connection, and ethical integrity in daily work life.

This is not a small problem affecting just a few. A recent Harvard study found that nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) report lacking “meaning or purpose” in their lives. The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index includes providing for spiritual health as one of the best practices for workplaces to benchmark.

One way that organizations support spiritual health in by providing chaplains, having faith-and-belief employee affinity or resource groups, and/or offering faith-related services – such as counseling – through their Employee assistance Programs. Last week, Diane Brady, who publishes the Fortune CEO Daily newsletter, included an intriguing quote by Penny Pennington, head of the investment advice firm Edward Jones, saying, “We’re a health and wellbeing company.” I dropped Diane a note about the rising attention of companies to Spiritual Health, and mentioned Tyson Foods’ Chaplaincy Program, which provides compassionate multi-faith chaplaincy services at all their major plants. She’s following up to see if she can interview John Tyson about this for a future newsletter.

Another way is by offering mindfulness and/or meditation programs. A 2022 research article in the Harvard Business Review estimated that More than half of American employers offer some form of mindfulness training to their workers, contributing to a global corporate wellness market that’s valued at over $50 billion. The article offers strategies to help employers and employees implement the targeted mindfulness programs that will be most beneficial for everyone.

Spiritual health is also supported by having a purpose-driven work culture. Next month, I’ve been invited to Walmart Headquarters to speak at their Faith Network Associate Resource Group’s August event titled “Live our Values”. I’ve been asked to speak about how faith connects to Walmart’s Core Values and explore with them meaningful ways that associates can show up to work each day to live out their faith and embody the Walmart values of “Respect for the Individual”, “Acting with Integrity”, and “Striving for Excellence”. This is something every organization could do – open the space for their members to reflect on how their own faiths and beliefs animate how they lean into their organization’s values.

There are other ways that organizations can support spiritual health, but the last that I’ll mention is to provide Inclusive Spaces for Reflection and Dialogue. Of course, such rooms shave proliferated as a best practice across the corporate world. Last week, I had a meeting with the Director of the Faith-Based Office at the US Department of Labor. He heard about today’s session and wanted to explore ways they might reinforce this message. I’m looking forward to what comes from that meeting, but one thing we talked about was the multi-faith meditation room on the fourth floor of the Department of Labor. One his first thoughts was to reinvigorate that space, including making it more like an interfaith chapel or perhaps like the meditation room in the picture.

I’d like to invite you to join the UK Faith@Work Network next month on 14th August to hear from Dr Amanda Murjan, the author of the just-released survey and research report from the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), on how faith offers a powerful counterpoint as the UK and UK workplaces grapple with rising levels of loneliness, anxiety and mental distress: registration link.

It’s now my pleasure to introduce my friend and seasoned mental and spiritual health practitioner Patrick Regan, awarded Order of the British Empire by the Late Queen Elizabeth II.

Patrick is an Honorary Fellow at the London South Bank University for his contribution towards justice and well-being. Patrick has written several books, the latest one being Brighter days, 12 steps to wellbeing.

Faith itself is the Lifeline: New Data Shows Having Faith Shields Against UK’s Mental Health Crisis

Join the UK Faith@Work network on 14th August to hear from Dr Amanda Murjan, the author of the just-released report from the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), how faith offers a powerful counterpoint as the UK and UK workplaces grapple with rising levels of loneliness, anxiety and mental distress.

• — When: Thursday, 14 August, 1:00-1:30 UK (8:00-8:30 ET)
• — Discussion of report’s significance by IIFL’s Dr Amanda Murjan
• — Registration required (free)

‘Faith & Happiness: How Religious Belief Shapes Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing‘ examines how religion influences experiences of wellbeing and attitudes towards mental health by comparing the UK’s two largest religious groups, Christians and Muslims, to those without faith. Through a nationally representative survey of 2068 UK adults and a series of in-depth interviews, this report explores the experiences of religious and non-religious people in relation to a range of wellbeing measures, including life satisfaction, worry and anxiety, low mood and depression, loneliness, and attitudes to mental health.

Research in this area often relies heavily on statistical data, but this report adopts a mixed-methods approach. By asking individuals to describe in their own words how their faith helps improve their emotional wellbeing, this report can explore how they use those beliefs, especially in moments of stress, to restore clarity, calm, and control.

Dr Amanda Murjan, IIFL research associate and report author remarks:

“Faith can significantly boost our emotional well-being. Our research shows that certain character strengths and skills tend to be more developed in people of faith compared to those without, which may help promote greater well-being. People of faith are more likely to actively seek a deeper sense of balance and harmony in their lives and accept life’s circumstances. They are more inclined to recognise positives in life, stay optimistic, and adapt to life’s unpredictability, trusting that all difficulties will eventually pass. Faith is linked to a strong sense of self-efficacy, self-reliance, and greater trust in personal resources to handle life. All these factors contribute to higher life satisfaction, less worry, and improvements in overall emotional health.”

Dr Amanda Murjan completed a PhD in Theology with a specialist interest in psychology at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University. Her thesis examined papal teaching on human flourishing using Carl Jung’s psychoanalytical theory and positive psychology. She is also a research fellow at Birmingham University studying the role of spiritual practices in UK African and Afro-Caribbean Churches in cultivating human flourishing by providing resources to cope with and challenge racism. Amanda also holds a postdoctoral research position at Durham University, working on an international project examining Catholic lay participation in church governance.

On July 24th, we’ll have a session on “Spiritual health in the workplace.” This refers to a sense of purpose, inner peace, and alignment with personal and organizational values. When nurtured, it can enhance employee well-being, foster a more compassionate culture, and improve overall engagement and productivity. It’s not about religion, per se, but about creating space for meaning, connection, and ethical integrity in daily work life.

Spiritual Health:

• — Boosts morale and resilience: Employees with strong spiritual well-being often show greater emotional balance and adaptability during stress.
• — Encourages ethical behavior: A spiritually healthy environment promotes integrity, empathy, and accountability.
• — Fosters inclusivity and purpose: It supports diverse beliefs and helps individuals find deeper meaning in their roles.
  

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Examples of How Organizations Support Spiritual Health

1. 1. Mindfulness and Meditation Programs
   Many companies now offer guided meditation sessions, quiet rooms, or mindfulness apps to help employees manage stress and reconnect with their inner values. These practices promote clarity, emotional regulation, and a sense of peace.

1. 2. Purpose-Driven Work Culture
   Organizations are increasingly aligning roles and goals with a deeper sense of purpose. This includes encouraging employees to reflect on how their work contributes to the greater good, which enhances job satisfaction and engagement.

1. 3. Inclusive Spaces for Reflection and Dialogue
   Some workplaces provide interfaith or non-denominational spaces for reflection, prayer, or quiet time. Others host open forums or workshops where employees can explore meaning, ethics, and personal growth in a respectful, inclusive environment.

These initiatives not only support individual well-being but also contribute to a more compassionate, resilient, and values-driven workplace culture.

Deeper Dive: Join us on July 24 at noon ET

To learn more, join us on Thursday, July 24, 2025, for a discussion on the role of spiritual health in the workplace with Patrick Regan, OBE. Register now (free).

Stanford Health Care is hosting an in-person and virtual discussion on July 23, 2025, that will provide insights into five types of chaplaincy: hospice, VA, prison, veterinary, and corporate chaplaincy.

During this session, five people active with chaplaincy ministries will provide Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students with insights into their respective fields of professional spiritual care. Brian Grim will participate, sharing insights from and opportunities in Corporate Chaplaincy,  along with Ram Appalaraju (Prison Chaplaincy), Arin Taylor Dahl (Veterinary Chaplaincy), Dan Tate (Hospice Chaplaincy), and John Fishman, BCC (Veteran Chaplaincy). Paul M. Fullmer, BCC, will moderate.

Each of the five panelists will share reflections on:

– The nature of their industry
– Their role and work
– Insights for reviewing job postings
– Reasonable salary ranges and benefits

The session will conclude with a Q&A discussion during which students (in-person and online) may engage with panelists directly. Light refreshments will be available for in-person attendees.

• Date: Monday, 27th October 2025
• Time: 10:00 to 17:00, followed by networking & light refreshments\
• Venue: Microsoft UK Headquarters, Paddington, London

We are delighted to invite you to our AI & Faith Conference: ‘Sacred Code – Ethics, Faith and the Future of Work’

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every sector, unlocking extraordinary opportunities, but also raising complex risks around ethics, trust, and human impact. As society demands greater accountability from business, leaders are faced with critical challenges: How do we innovate responsibly? How can we drive innovation without sacrificing ethical standards? How do we design AI systems that not only align with human values but also respect the diverse faith identities, moral convictions, and cultural contexts of our global workforce and customers?

For senior leaders, the stakes are high: Brand reputation, talent retention, and regulatory trust increasingly depend on how organisations navigate these ethical and social frontiers.

This exclusive conference is designed for:

• – Chairs, CEOs, and Executive Board members
• – Chief Data Officers, Chief AI Officers, and AI leaders shaping strategy and governance
• – Chief People Officers, HR leaders, and DEI executives
• – Senior policymakers and faith leaders collaborating with business

Join senior voices from global corporations, technology giants, religious communities, academia, and ethics think tanks as we explore:

• – The business case for values-driven leadership in an AI-powered economy
• – Practical frameworks for mitigating bias, preserving human dignity, and ensuring trust in AI
• – How faith traditions and ethical principles can guide AI development and deployment
• – Case studies from firms turning ethical commitments into competitive advantage

Join this strategic conversation to explore how businesses can stay competitive while safeguarding their brand, workforce, and social license to operate in the AI era.

Register NOW to secure your place.

The next in-person event for Faith@Work UK will be in early October 2025 to explore the role religious beliefs and values play in developing ethical AI that serves the common good. Follow Faith@Work UK to stay up to date on this and other events!

AI Image generated using Microsoft Copilot.

McKinsey Health Institute finds that for a “modern understanding of health, spiritual health is not a ‘nice to have’ but a core dimension, along with physical, mental, and social health.”

They define spiritual health as having a sense of meaning and purpose in life, a connection to something larger than oneself, and a sense of belonging.

This is not a small problem affecting just a few. A recent Harvard study found that nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) report lacking “meaning or purpose” in their lives.

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index includes providing for spiritual health as one of the best practices for workplaces to benchmark.

For insights on addressing this crisis that adversely impacts workplaces and the rising generation of future workers, join us on July 24th for a discussion with Patrick Regan, OBE. Patrick is an Honorary Fellow at the London South Bank University for his contribution towards justice and well-being. He has written several books, the latest one being Brighter Days: 12 steps to strengthening your wellbeing.

REGISTER HERE (free). This session will help you:

• — See the Role of Spiritual Health in the Workplace
• — Understand more about your own mental wellbeing
• — Look at the character traits of a resilient person/team
• — Explore the environment needed to allow people to flourish and grow

What every business needs to know about it!

While many have presumed that religion is a fading phenomenon, new research shows that a revival of conservative religion may be underway in England. Also, given media narratives that focus on the negative aspects of religion, this is a story that is largely unreported.

This video, recorded 10th July 2025, provides a fascinating discussion on latest trends by Prof. Chris Baker.

Prof. Chris Baker is a world-leading expert in developing innovative and strategic research, theory and publication around one of the defining trajectories of the 21st century – namely the newly visible role and impact of religion and belief on public life, and its political, social, economic, urban, policy and theological implications at both global and local levels.

Chris is the originator of spiritual capital theory in its current policy and academic discourse, a leading exponent of postsecular theory and a pioneer of the spatial turn in theology, as well as interdisciplinarity in the study of religion and belief for policy.

Chris’s particular focus is on the relationship between religion, belief and urbanisation, the role of religion and belief in public policy and social welfare, and the role of religion and belief in civil society and the reshaping of church within the urban environment. His work is focussed on the UK experience, but is also impacting on debates within Europe, the U.S. and Australia.