Spiritual Self

• Spiritual Self


  Highlighting the mind-body-spirit connection, the spiritual self is an ongoing, personal life journey, contextualized by the belief in a higher being, culture, relationships, nature, and the discovery of meaning in one's life
• Spirituality


  Talks about meaning and purpose that go beyond the physical realities of life
• Spirituality is focused on a person's connections to different aspects of his/her existence - to other people, to nature, and to sacredness and divinity
• Spirituality talks about the sacred and transcendent - the belief that in this vast universe, there is a force higher than the self
• Religiosity


  Defined as the adherence to a belief system and practices associated with a tradition in which there is agreement about what is believed and practiced
• Distinctions between religiosity and spirituality

  • Religiosity is communal, Spirituality is individual
  • In religiosity, beliefs and practices are within religious groups, and religious commitment, conservatism, and skepticism are manifested. Spiritual attributes include the need for spiritual quest, ecumenical worldviews, compassion, service, and inner peace
  • A person can possess spirituality even his/she does not subscribe to any religion
• What spirituality brings to one's life

  Spirituality can bring positive consequences such as contentment, serenity, resilience, and answers to questions about being a good person and living life to the fullest
• Spiritual development


  The journey of finding a deep connection with the universe (God, a holy spirit, or something bigger than us) and seeking the truth about our life
• Spiritual development is a practice of self-reflection, awareness, and growth. It's about learning to understand your own needs, wants, and desires, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and becoming more self-aware to use that knowledge for positive change in yourself and others
• Forms of spiritual development

  • Writing down thoughts at the end of each day or keeping a gratitude journal
  • Meditating for an hour every morning or going on a silent retreat for a week
  • Exploring what spirituality means to you or finding new ways to pray every day
• Four Stages of Spiritual Growth (Michael Bernard Beckwith)


  • The Victim Stage (Things are happening TO ME)
  • The Manifester Stage (Things are happening BY ME)
  • The Channeler Stage (Things are happening THROUGH ME)
  • Being Consciousness Stage (Things happening AS ME)
• Finding life's purpose and meaning


  More about giving to others, the community, the environment, and the world, rather than just pursuing happiness. Provides a real-life direction and fulfillment
• Viktor Frankl's Meaning Triangle


  • Doing: Work & Creativity - Giving something to the world through self-expression
  • Experiencing: Receiving from the world through nature, culture, relationships, interactions with others, our environment, spirituality
  • Attitude: Even if we can't change a situation or circumstance, we can still choose our attitude towards it