What Is Spirituality?

Define spirituality, describe its three facets, and distinguish between religion and spirituality.

From one day to the next, many of us attempt to satisfy our needs for belonging and self-esteem by

acquiring material possessions, hanging with the “right crowd,” and being the “best” at everything we do.

But new “toys” and keeping up with others don’t necessarily bring happiness or improve our sense of self-

worth or well-being—nor do they protect us from life’s ups and downs. Friends and family can

disappoint; relationships can falter; and even the best-laid plans can fail. Buffeted by life, many of us

begin to seek more answers—to grow and develop in a way that helps us cope. With this seeking, our

quest for spirituality begins.

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The simple act of walking slowly, mindfully, and with purpose through a maze, or labyrinth, is a way to
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visualize our path through life as we consider our place in our community and society.
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But what is spirituality? Let’s begin by exploring its root, spirit, which in many cultures refers to breath, or
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the force that animates life. When you’re “inspired,” your energy flows. You’re not held back by doubts
about the purpose or meaning of your work and life. Indeed, many definitions of spirituality incorporate
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this sense of transcendence, focused on an internal experience.

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27.5% of first-year students marked “none” as their RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE, nearly doubling
the 15.4% who indicated no religious preference in 1971.
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Harold G. Koenig, MD, one of the foremost researchers of spirituality and health, defines spirituality as
“the personal quest for understanding answers to ultimate questions about life, about meaning, and about
our relationship with the sacred or transcendent.”3 The sacred or transcendent could be thought of as a

higher power or being, or it could refer to the essential goodness of life, or our relationship with nature or
forces we cannot explain.

Spirituality may mean different things to different people; however, there are often several common
elements, including:

Being aware of your impact on people, places, and events

Actively searching for meaning in your life

Finding a way to give back, knowing that service to others is a source of true happiness
Understanding the interconnectedness of humanity, nature, and the universe and respecting all
 Understanding the interconnectedness of humanity, nature, and the universe and respecting all
elements

Nurturing loving relationships with yourself and others

Living with intention, as if every day matters
Developing a philosophy of life that guides your daily attitudes and decisions
Accepting your limitations as well as your strengths

Essentially, spirituality is about actively paying attention to our relationships, our community, and our
selves, emphasizing respect and awareness.

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Spiritual and ethical concerns are important to most American college students. One of the ways students
express their spirituality is by working to reduce suffering in the world; many contribute their time and
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skills to volunteer organizations, as these students are doing by working to build homes for Habitat for
Humanity.
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Spirituality and Religion

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Spirituality and religion are not the same thing. Religion is a set of rituals, beliefs, symbols, and practices
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intended to enable a feeling of connection to the holy or divine. It is possible to be spiritual and not
religious and equally possible to be religious and not spiritual. In fact, while one global survey revealed
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that nearly 4 out of 5 people worldwide are religiously affiliated, it also showed 16 percent (1.1 billion)
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are not affiliated, making them the third largest group surveyed.4 Recent research showed that so-called
“millennials,” people born roughly between the years 1981 and 1996, are less likely than older Americans
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to say that religion is very important to them. In contrast, they were just as likely as older Americans to

report the importance of spirituality.5 Many people without religious affiliation still have certain religious
or spiritual beliefs.6 Thus, it’s clear that religion does not have to be part of a spiritual person’s life. Table
1 identifies some characteristics that can help you distinguish between religion and spirituality.

Table 1 Characteristics Distinguishing Religion and Spirituality

Spirituality Integrates Three Facets
Brian Luke Seaward, a professor at the University of Northern Colorado and author of several books on
spirituality and mind–body healing, identifies three facets of human existence that together constitute the
core of human spirituality: relationships, values, and purpose in life (Figure 1 ).7 Questions arising in these
three domains prompt many of us to look for spiritual answers.

Figure 1 Three Facets of Spirituality

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Most of us are prompted to explore our spirituality because of questions relating to our relationships,
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values, and purpose in life. At the same time, these three facets together constitute spiritual well-being.
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Watch Video Tutor: Three Facets of Spirituality

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Relationships
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Have you ever wondered if someone you were attracted to is really right for you? Or, conversely,
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wondered if you should break off a long-term relationship? Have you ever wished you had more friends,

or that you were a better friend to yourself? For many people, such questions and yearnings are natural
triggers for spiritual growth: As we contemplate who we should choose as a life partner or how to mend a
quarrel with a friend, we begin to foster our own inner wisdom. At the same time, healthy relationships
are a sign of spiritual well-being and problematic relationships can negatively impact many facets of one’s

life. For example, in 2015, 9 percent of college students who participated in the National College Health
Assessment reported that relationship difficulties had negatively impacted their academic performance.8
When we think well of ourselves, and consequently treat others with respect, honesty, integrity, and love,
we are manifesting our spiritual health.

Values
Our personal values are our principles—the set of fundamental rules by which we conduct our lives. It’s
what we stand for, such as honesty, integrity, and altruism. When we attempt to clarify our values, and
then live according to those values, we’re moving closer to a spiritually healthy life. Spiritual health is
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characterized by a personal understanding of one’s own values (including how we established our values
and why we hold certain values) as well as a respect and curiosity about the values of others in our
community.

Purpose in Life
What things will make you feel happy and “complete”? How do you hope to find “meaning” in your life
and your relationships with others? What experiences do you hope to gain? How will family and friends

fit into your plans? Is there some “wrong” in the world that you would like to help make “right”? How do
these choices reflect what you hold as your purpose in life? At the end of your days, what would you
want people to say about how you’ve lived your life and what your life has meant to others? How will the
way you live your life contribute to your community and society? Do you wonder about the meaning your
life has? Spiritual growth is fostered by contemplating these questions about our place in the world rather
than our individual gains and material possessions. People who are spiritually healthy are able to
articulate their search for a global purpose and to make choices that manifest that purpose.

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Spirituality and religion are not the same. Many people find that religious practices, for example,
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attending services or making offerings—such as the small lamp this Hindu woman is placing in the sacred
Ganges River—help them to focus on their spirituality. However, religion does not have to be part of a
spiritual person’s life.
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Picture in your mind someone you think has made the world a better place—whether someone close to
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you, or a global figure such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Mother Theresa—people whose
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spiritual quests took on a life-size view of a better world and had a real purpose. Allow yourself to see
your life as having its own mission and purpose.
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Spiritual Intelligence and Inner Wisdom

Our relationships, values, and sense of purpose together contribute to our overall spiritual intelligence
(SI) . This term was introduced by physicist and philosopher Danah Zohar, who defined it as “an ability
to access higher meanings, values, abiding purposes, and unconscious aspects of the self.”9 Humility, the
capacity to consider ideas that fall “outside the box” and tapping in to energies outside the ego all fit in
her definition. SI allows us to utilize values (such as gratitude and forgiveness), meanings, and purposes
to be more creative and enrich our lives.

Since Zohar introduced the idea of SI, a number of psychologists, clerics, and even some business
consultants have taken the liberty of expanding the definition of the term. For example, spiritual

intelligence expert Cindy Wigglesworth explains that SI helps us find compassion and wisdom to help
guide us through life.10 SI also helps us maintain our peaceful center. To find out your own spiritual IQ,
see the Assess Yourself activity in MasteringHealth.

THE #1 trait millennials look for in a successful career is a “SENSE OF MEANING,” which seems

to be defined as doing things for others, or giving.

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