# Spirituality is neuroprotective We have two sorts of awareness: achieving awareness and awakened awareness. Achieving awareness refers to our goal-oriented consciousness, i.e. the part of our brain that thinks about what we want to achieve and how we can achieve it. However, if achieving awareness becomes overbearing, it tends to lead to depression. Its counterpart, awakened awareness, is more focused on what life is showing you at the moment. It reminds you that life is a journey. Awakened awareness is closely related to spirituality, and **==a sustained spiritual life was shown to produce a thickening of the cortex, suggesting that it is *neuroprotective*==**. In addition, of all spiritual practices, *altruism* seems to be the most protective against depression (see [[You are me]]). --- ## 📚 References - [How spirituality protects your brain from despair | Lisa Miller](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0GETX5_VJ4)