Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people experience on a sensory and physical level. Instead, it suggests that there is something greater that connects all beings to each other and to the universe itself. It also proposes that there is ongoing existence after death and strives to answer questions about the meaning of life, how people are connected to each other, truths about the universe, and other mysteries of human existence.
Spirituality and religious activity have been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. Spirituality is not a single path or belief system. There are many ways to experience spirituality and the benefits of a spiritual experience. For some people, this might involve the belief in a higher power or a specific religious practice. For others, it may involve experiencing a sense of connection to a higher state or a sense of inter-connectedness with the rest of humanity and nature.
Some signs of spirituality can include:. Not everyone experiences or expresses spirituality in the same way. Some people may seek spiritual experiences in every aspect of their lives, while others may be more likely to have these feelings under specific conditions or in certain locations. For example, some people may be more likely to have spiritual experiences in churches or other religious temples, while some might have these feelings when they out enjoying nature.
There are many different types of spirituality, ranging from religious traditions to more secular approaches. Some of the major forms of spirituality include:. It is important to remember that there are many other spiritual traditions that exist throughout the world, including traditional African and Indigenous spiritual practices.
Such spiritual practices can be particularly important to groups of people who have been subjected to the effects of colonialism. There are a number of different reasons why people may turn to spirituality, including but not limited to:. While specific spiritual views are a matter of faith, research has demonstrated some of the benefits of spirituality and spiritual activity. The results may surprise no one who has found comfort in their religious or spiritual views, but they are definitely noteworthy in that they demonstrate in a scientific way that these activities do have benefits for many people.
The following are a few more of the many positive findings related to spirituality and its influence on physical and mental health:. This, along with other research, demonstrates that there may be tangible and lasting benefits to maintaining involvement with a spiritual community.
Accessed 12 Nov. More Definitions for spiritual. English Language Learners Definition of spiritual Entry 2 of 2. See the full definition for spiritual in the English Language Learners Dictionary. Nglish: Translation of spiritual for Spanish Speakers. Britannica English: Translation of spiritual for Arabic Speakers.
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Definition of spiritual Entry 1 of 2. Definition of spiritual Entry 2 of 2. Opening yourself in this way can help you to live with hope, meaning and purpose, and inner peace in the midst of whatever circumstances you find yourself.
Emotions and Spirituality. Send to a Friend. What is spirituality? Is it different from religion? Ultimately, none of them captures the whole reality, but what becomes clear is that spirituality has these core elements: Finding or making some kind of meaning in your life: Everyone deals with issues such as identity, suffering and hope.
What makes such issues spiritual is that they raise questions about the meaning of life, life in general and your life in particular. Your spirituality is shaped by the answers you give these questions. This aspect of spirituality is examined further in this article: Finding Meaning and Purpose During a Health Crisis Learning to live in relationships: Consider your relationship with yourself, with others, with the natural world, with the human-shaped world, and with the transcendent dimension referred to in religions by such names as God, Allah, Universal Truth, Creator, or Holy One, but by others as Higher Power, Life Force, Life Energy, Web of Life, or simply The Sacred.
These are just some of the ways in which people can nurture their spirits: relating to friends, family, and neighbours in ways that give and receive love, support, kindness, guidance, loyalty, and forgiveness; expressing themselves creatively or artistically e.
You grow spiritually as you learn to do these things: love and care for yourself, express compassion for others, delight in the natural and human-made worlds, and cherish your place and participation in the web of life; trust your intuitions and conscience, develop trustworthy relationships, trust that meaning can be found in every moment and place of your life, discern whom you can trust, and trust that the universe or higher entity is friendly no matter what happens; forgive yourself for failures and wrongdoing, seek justice when you have been abused or wronged, let go of the desire for revenge when you have been hurt, accept that in the big picture you are accepted and valued just as you are.
In these experiences you may struggle with questions such as these: What do people think of me? Where do I belong? Religion: This is a specific set of organised beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. Spirituality: This is more of an individual practice, and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose.
It also relates to the process of developing beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others, without any set spiritual values. One way to understand the relationship between spirituality and religion is to imagine a game of football.
The rules, referees, other players and the field markings help guide you as you play the game in a similar way that religion might guide you to find your spirituality. Kicking the ball around a park, without having to play on the field or with all the rules and regulations, can also give you fulfilment and fun and still expresses the essence of the game, similar to spirituality in life.
Life can be full of ups and downs, good times and bad.
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