What Is Spirituality?

Speaking or writing about spirituality always scares me a little, and excites me at the same time. It scares me because this topic, especially in the context of work, is a minefield. The issue of spirituality is closely tied to one’s core identity, and the risk of being misunderstood or inadvertently causing offense is very high. At the same time, addressing spirituality excites me because it’s on most people’s minds in some way or another but is rarely discussed openly because it’s so complicated and personal. Yet humanitarian work is a profession that carries with it huge potential for spiritual disruption on the one hand, and spiritual growth on the other. And many research studies suggest that spirituality and religious practice protect people from physical and mental illness. This is a topic that deserves some attention.

A necessary place to start is by defining what we mean by the term “spirituality” – a word loaded with invisible baggage and meaning many different things to different people. When I run workshops on this topic, I usually start the day by asking participants to help me construct a “concept map.” Using the diagram on the right, participants help me and each other understand what they mean by the word spirituality. Then, and only then, can we move on to discussing how our personal spirituality influences, and is impacted by, our work. 

There’s no quicker way to feel humbled than to try and define spirituality – just as mental health is a dynamic and evolving concept that varies across people and cultures. But the definition I often use is: Spirituality is a core component of human nature. It includes a sense of meaning and purpose, hope and faith. Whether due to an explicit belief in God, a more diffuse sense of connectedness with nature or a life force, or a belief in human nature and solidarity, most people believe that to be fully human involves more than just the physical dimensions of existence.

This definition sets spirituality apart from religion. Spirituality is personal, related to a deeply held set of values and to meaning that extends beyond ourselves. Religion is often described as collective and institutional – a set of practices related to shared spiritual beliefs. For some people the two overlap. Many others, however, might describe themselves as spiritual, but not at all religious.

Today: In your notebook, sketch out your thoughts in relation to the diagram above. What is your spirituality connected to and influenced by? Is it related to religion or religious practice? If so, how?

This week: Think more deeply about where your deepest sense of meaning and purpose, hope and faith, are anchored. How would you explain your spirituality to someone else? Make notes.

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