Of all the amazing things we can do to be healthy and manage stress as entrepreneurs, one of the things that statistically can help us the most is the one thing no one seems to talk about.

Personal religious and / or spiritual practice.

True story. Whether you personally have a religious or spiritual background or not, there’s a lot of people who do — and benefit from it.

In fact, research shows “some 90% of the world’s population engages in religious or spiritual practices; these practices are a major means of coping with stress and illness” (H.G. Koenig, 2002).

And with a gamut of health benefits, both mental and physical, it’s no wonder why there are so many people who turn to what we sometimes don’t fully understand as a source of strength in our lives.

Let’s look at some of the tested and documented mental health benefits of having a religious or spiritual aspect of your life:

“Mental health benefits include enhanced psychological, relational, and marital well-being, as well as reduced rates of disorders such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide” (H.G. Koenig, 2001).

I don’t know about you, but reduced rates of anxiety, and yes even depression, are two things I know many entrepreneurs could use.

So this is great news! A nearly sure-fire way to help us cope with life (not just business) and keep a good focus. But it’s like we’re all trying to not talk about the massive elephant in the room.

Is it because it’s really personal? Or is it because we’re all too afraid to talk about it?

Notice I’m not mentioning a specific religion at all, so it’s not like I’m saying what I think is the answer, but rather that there’s likely an answer for us all out there.

Mitchell J. Neubert and three of his colleagues at Baylor University wanted to talk about it with entrepreneurs. Specifically they investigated the connection between faith and the propensity to start a business. After surveying over 1,700 entrepreneurs they found that most entrepreneurs, and those who think entrepreneurially in organizations, have a faith base and feel really connected to it. Neubert and crew’s survey spanned all faiths (as well as atheists and agnostics).

Harvard Business Review posted an interview with Mitchell Neubert explaining their findings within entrepreneurs. It’s pretty fascinating.

Unfortunately, as I type this I brace myself for controversy and the potential, let’s just call them enthusiastically opposed, people to suddenly come out of the woodworks and start voicing their opinions.

I find that really sad, honestly.

In a country where everyone’s supposed to be entitled to their opinions and be subject to free speech, we have trivialized and made a mockery out of an individual’s desire to have a faith base in their life to the point where it’s just not cool, not P.C., and at times downright nerve wrecking to talk about this topic.

But the numbers speak for themselves.

Do you have a religious or spiritual side? If so, how does that help you with your overall health and well-being as an entrepreneur? If not, why not? ☺ Look forward to your comments.

This was originally published on Founder Health, a site dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stop sacrificing their health and happiness as they build their business.