Spirituality has been an important part of life for generations, and people turn to it for personal growth and a state of wellbeing. The concept of spirituality goes beyond the self, as people use it to find their purpose and to gain a better understanding about the mysteries of life. Whether you find spirituality in going to church, practicing yoga, or listening to the best spiritual podcast, you’ll quickly see how spirituality connects humans on more than a sensory or physical level.
Recognizing Spirituality
Spirituality generally involves a connection to a higher state or being. It is often connected to religion, but it is more than religion. You can recognize signs of spirituality in the way you experience the world around you. For example, having compassion and empathy is a sign of spirituality. Other signs of spirituality include:
- Looking for happiness outside of material possessions
- Searching for meaning in your life
- Working to make the world a better place
- Feeling a sense of wonder about natural
- Being awed by new experiences
- Experiencing a deep connection with another person
- Being concerned about what happens after death
- Worrying about suffering around the world
Spiritual experiences are different for everyone. Some people experience it in their daily lives, while others only experience it while in nature or during meditation. You might feel spiritual experiences when you go to church, or you might take time to pause and enjoy mindful eating as you connect food to the universe.
Types of Spirituality
People experience spirituality in different ways, because there are so many types of spirituality. Religions offer spiritual experiences, and you can experience a connection with the world around you while
- Praying
- Doing meditation and breathwork
- Volunteering in your community
- Partaking in a spiritual retreat
- Practicing yoga
- Mindfully hiking in nature
Consider the different world religions and how they encourage their members to partake in the spiritual world. These major religions all have a spiritual component, and they achieve enlightenment in different ways:
- Christianity
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
Keep in mind that other religions and spiritual traditions exist around the world. Indigenous communities have traditional spiritual practices that often reflect their environment, and many have remained in place despite colonialism trying to stop them.
Religion and Spirituality
While spirituality and religion have commonalities, it’s important to understand how they differ. Spirituality can be practiced individually and without a set of rules, while religions have set rules and customs that are often practiced in groups.
Spirituality is more about a journey to discover meaning in life, while religion focuses on a deity and a traditional text.
Impacts of Spirituality
People use spirituality to find purpose in meaning in their lives, especially when they look for answers to thought-provoking questions. They often use it to cope with issues relating to stress and anxiety, as the connection to people and nature calms the body and mind. When people are feeling down and out, spirituality can help them look forward to the future, and it helps them build a sense of community.
Living a spiritual life does not mean that you have to believe in a deity like God or Buddha. Instead, it helps people find comfort in the idea that there is something bigger that connects us. Many people find a sense of peace when they do something spiritual, and that sense of peace helps them relieve stress. Spirituality helps people feel gratitude, which also helps them reduce stress in their lives.
People who include spirituality in their lives find comfort in their communities. Being in a community of like-minded people reduces stress and improves overall well-being. Having a spiritual life also reduces the fear of the unknown, especially related to death. Spirituality provides a sense of comfort for people, and many show use prayer as a coping mechanism when they are stressed.
The overall benefits of having spirituality in your life include less mental illness like depression and anxiety, better health, less stress, more positivity, and better ability to cope with stress.
Practicing Spirituality
Spiritual paths vary dramatically from person to person. Some people enjoy wandering a path at church, listening to the guidance of their pastors and Bible lessons. Others need to want to wander a road less traveled in nature, and some need to learn to connect their breath to a variety of yoga poses. You might need to try a variety of different spiritual journeys, while some people quickly find what works for them.
You can begin by taking small steps that focus on your personal spirituality, then branch out into community events. Start by noticing how you feel as a human, paying attention to your range of experiences. Then, look at others and consider how you can empathetically open your heart to their experiences.
If you need more experiences to grow your spirituality, consider practicing meditation. Start with apps that have guided meditations or spend a few minutes each day sitting and breathing. Some people also enjoy keeping a gratitude journal, where they record positive experiences each day. This experience becomes grounding, as people realize that they have many good things happening in their world. You begin to develop a sense of mindfulness as you become more aware of what is happening in the present.
Potential Spiritual Problems
Some people become overwhelmed with their spirituality and use it as a crutch to avoid being human. Remember that you will have conflicts and negative emotions, even when living a spiritual life.
Your spirituality isn’t there to sidestep problems, it’s there to help you live with them and make your life better. Don’t use spirituality as an excuse. Instead, use it to improve your well-being and build a strong, empathetic connection to the world around you.
Unfortunately, too many people think the only way to be spiritual is to focus on the positive or understanding that things happen for a reason. That isn’t spirituality. It’s ignoring the problem or down-grading someone else’s issue.
