Spiritual Wellness

 
Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle

 

 “All things connect. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand in it.”

Chief Seattle to President Franklin Pierce, 1855

Spirituality is likely the least often considered and most misunderstood dimension of wellness.

It has gained increased prominence in health and wellness discussion based on evidence of its influence on illness and its relationship with the other dimensions of wellness.

Defining Spirituality

Part of the challenge in our understanding of spirituality relates to the language used to describe it. Human spirituality and spiritual experiences are often described as ineffable, as our words fail to capture all that it entails. Dr. Brian Luke Seaward provides the following abbreviated list of aspects of spirituality:

 
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  • Higher consciousness

  • Transcendence

  • Self-reliance

  • Love

  • Faith

  • Enlightenment

  • Community

  • Self-actualization

  • Compassion

  • Forgiveness

  • Mysticism

  • A higher power

  • Grace

 

There is no universal consensus on the components of spirituality, equally so with a definition, which relates to its ineffable nature. Our working definition of spiritual wellness is:

a positive sense of meaning and purpose in life.

 

Although simplistic, this definition tend to resonate well with most people. The definitions of spirituality here may help to shape our perspective of what is included in our individual working definitions. This collection will grow over time and we encourage you to share (via email) those that resonate with you so we can expand our perspectives together.

Dr. Brian Luke Seaward: a maturation process of higher consciousness with respect to an insightful and nurturing relationship with oneself and others, the development of a strong personal value system and the cultivation of a meaningful purpose in one’s life



 

Spirit Defined

Spirit = breath

as in the “breath of life”

This denotes the energy of life, otherwise described as:

prana, chi, life force, Holy Spirit, etc.

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Religion and Spirituality

Religions provide a vehicle to cultivate human spirituality. The core components of spirituality observed throughout the history of human spirituality are relationships, a personal value system, and a purposeful meaning in life. Each religion is based on a specific dogma that provides structure to aspects of spirituality. However, spirituality need not be developed/discussed within the confines of particular religious doctrine. Religions can serve as excellent incubators for spirituality, but they can also divide us when variations in dogma clash. The practice of spirituality cultivates an appreciation for the interconnected nature of everything in life. We can do better than coexist; we can foster diverse communities that love in light of our differences and appreciate the Perennial Philosophy. 

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Spirituality and Medicine

A very brief history of spirituality in medicine is explored in a separate post, and research on its impact on measures of health is extensive and will be explored in a future post.

Public Interest in Spirituality

Our cultural preoccupation with success and power often distracts from discovering and committing to one’s life purpose. It is worth considering whether a sacrifice to personal and societal wellness is justified in pursuing power, influence, money, possessions, etc. Many theorists propose that these pursuits often result in hollow satisfaction, anger, and confusion 

While society grows increasingly disconnected and isolated, yet our existential threats remain ever-present, interest in spirituality increases as an innate mechanism to self-correct deviations from the path of wellness.

 
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Reflections on Spirituality

Carl Jung

Carl Jung

  • In The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Tibetan Lama Sogyal Rinpoche suggests that life purpose results from the intellectual and courageous pursuit of the spiritual journey

  • In Man’s Search for Meaning, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Victor Fankl writes “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it”

  • Psychologist Carl Jung’s theory of collective unconscious suggests that “divine consciousness” is the unifying connection between all people

  • Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Unified Field Theory hypothesize that all matter is energy, connecting all things beyond the limits of space and time

  • Dr. Joan Borysenko defines stress as being disconnected [spiritually].

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

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Page References

Key Literature

  1. Seaward B. Reflections on human spirituality for the worksite. American Journal of Health Promotion. 1995;9(3):165-168.

  2. Adams T, Bezner T, Drabbs M. Conceptualization and measurement of the spiritual and psychological dimensions of wellness in a college population. Journal of American College Health. 2000;48(4):165-173.

  3. Bezner J. Promoting health and wellness: implications for physical therapist practice. Physical Therapy. 2015; 95(10):1433-1444.

Defining Spirituality and Spirit

  1. Seaward B. Reflections on human spirituality for the worksite. American Journal of Health Promotion. 1995;9(3):165-168.

Reflections on Spirituality

  1. Seaward B. Reflections on human spirituality for the worksite. American Journal of Health Promotion. 1995;9(3):165-168.

  2. Chief Seattle. A letter from Chief Seattle, 1855 (from Ed McCaa Eagleman). Mother Earth Spirituality. San Francisco, California: Harper Collins, 1990.

Public Interest in Spirituality

  1. Adams T, Bezner T, Drabbs M. Conceptualization and measurement of the spiritual and psychological dimensions of wellness in a college population. Journal of American College Health. 2000;48(4):165-173.

  2. Rinpoche S. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. San Francisco: Harper Collins; 1992.

  3. Csikszentmihalyi M. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper Perennial; 1990.

Reflections on Spirituality

  1. Adams T, Bezner T, Drabbs M. Conceptualization and measurement of the spiritual and psychological dimensions of wellness in a college population. Journal of American College Health. 2000;48(4):165-173.

  2. Rinpoche S. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. San Francisco: Harper Collins; 1992.

  3. Frankl V. Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1984.

Stock Photos

  1. Row boat made by Nuno Obey from www.pexels.com

  2. Chief Seattle. Photographer unknown. Accessed from www.brunswick.k12.me

  3. Sunset through tree made by Pixabay from www.pexels.com

  4. Man practicing Tai Chi. Photographer unknown. Accessed from Wikipedia Commons.

  5. Perennial philosophy. Artisit unknown. Accessed from the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors.

  6. The Paradox of Success by John R. O’Neil. Accessible through Amazon and other book retailers. Image accessed from Goodreads.

  7. Carl Jung. Photographer unknown. Image accessed from openculture.com