Spirituality encompasses a broad range of experiences and beliefs that may or may not involve religion. It has cognitive or philosophic aspects (searching for meaning, purpose and truth in life) as well as experiential or emotional aspects of hope, love, connection, inner peace and comfort and positive feelings toward oneself, others and the environment and nature. It also includes behavior, or how a person externally manifests his or her spiritual beliefs and internal state.
Spirituality can help people cope with difficult situations, such as stress, depression and illness. It can also restore a sense of hope and optimism. Research shows that people who are more spiritual have a healthier body and mind.
It is important for health care professionals to be aware of the role that spirituality plays in their patients’ lives and to recognize that spirituality can have both helpful and unhelpful effects. It is also important to understand that not everyone is religious, and many people consider themselves spiritual but don’t practice a specific religion.
Spirituality involves a shift in focus from outward activity to an inner life. This has been a central theme in the world’s religions. The teachings of many traditions, including Christianity and Hinduism, are centered on the idea that a person can become closer to God by focusing on his or her inner self. Spiritual activities include meditation, yoga and reading spiritual texts. In the latter case, this usually refers to studying foundational spiritual texts and related commentary literature (lectio divina or swadhyaya in Christianity, and Raja Yoga in Hinduism). It can also include attending talks by spiritual teachers and practicing personal prayer.