Spirituality and the person
Spirituality is about more than just our beliefs or faith. It is about who we are as individuals, our relationships, our meaning and purpose and makes no assumptions about our age, illness, gender, sexual orientation or lifestyle.
Humans are more than just a collection of cells and atoms. We are aware of the past. We have an expectation of a future. We recognise the finite nature of our lives. It is how we cope, how this impinges on our life, our relationships, our search for meaning or purpose or value, which gives us a sense of spirituality. For some people spirituality will involve humanistic philosophy or religious beliefs and practices, which provide support and comfort during lives difficult times.
The importance of spirituality for human health and wellbeing is becoming better understood. Spiritual wellbeing enhances and integrates all other dimensions of health, including the physical, mental, emotional and social. A person’s spirituality is not separate from the body, the mind or material reality, for it is their inner life. It is the practice of loving kindness, empathy and tolerance in daily life. It is a feeling of solidarity with our fellow humans while helping to alleviate their suffering. It brings a sense of peace, harmony and conviviality with all. It is the essence and significance behind all moral values and virtues such as benevolence, compassion, honesty, sympathy, respect, forgiveness, integrity, loving kindness towards strangers, and respect for nature. Spirituality creates and connects these virtues. This is what lies behind moral intuition. It is about knowing, and experiencing deeper meaning and connection behind apparently random events and processes such as illness and an awareness of human vulnerability.