What is Spirituality?

spirituality

Spirituality is about finding ways to connect more deeply to yourself and others. It’s also about cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose in life, and it’s about learning to let go and trust that whatever is happening in the present moment is exactly what needs to be occurring for you to grow and evolve.

Many people may believe in a monotheistic God, or they might be more inclined to one of the Eastern non-theistic traditions such as Buddhism, Taoism or Hinduism. Others, however, may define their spirituality as simply being a good person or engaging in quiet reflection and meditation on a daily basis. Whatever the case, there is a common thread that runs through all spiritual paths and practices: a belief in something bigger than yourself.

The idea of spirituality is an ancient one, and it has been central to religious scripture (e.g., “Where there is no vision the people perish”) as well as to the arts and literature (e.g., “Ah, but it is a tree of life; its fruit is sweet for those who eat of it” Andrea del Sarto). In addition, the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and Roberto Assagioli developed a psychological approach known as psychosynthesis, which includes a focus on spirituality.

What makes spirituality different from religion is that it doesn’t claim that only its version of the truth is true. Instead, it allows individuals to pick and choose the truths that resonate with them most deeply and to then integrate those into their own lives.