Spirituality

Spirituality is, in a narrow sense, a concern with matters of the spirit, however that may be defined; but it is also a wide term with many available readings: it may include belief in supernatural powers, as in religion; but the emphasis is on personal experience. It may be a metaphorical expression for the life perceived as higher, more complex or more integrated with worldview, as compared with the simply sensational.

Spirituality and personal well-being

Due to its broad scope and individual nature, spirituality is perhaps better understood by highlighting a number of key concepts that arise for people when asked to describe what spirituality means to them. Research by Martsolf & Mickley (1998) highlighted the following areas as worthy of consideration:

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• Meaning ? significance of life; making sense of situations; deriving purpose.
• Values ? beliefs and standards that are cherished.
• Transcendence ? experience and appreciation of a dimension beyond self.
• Connecting ? relationships with self, others, God/Higher Power, and the environment.
• Becoming ? an unfolding of life that demands reflection and experience; includes a sense of who one is and how one knows.

Spirituality, according to most adherants, is an essential part of an individual's holistic health and well-being, by developing an awareness of a "transcendent dimension" to life.

Related Topics:
Holistic health - Well-being - Transcendent

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