THE SPIRITUAL SELF (ASPECT)
At the end of the lesson, you to be able:
1. Explain the nature of spirituality and religiosity and
how it is manifested in daily life;
2. Examine the different concepts of soul and the
importance of ritual; and
3. Evaluate the varying view about the meaning of
life.
The Inner Soul
➢ The concept of the “whole person” is usually
associated with the idea of human beings as
having physical and psychological aspects.
➢ Spiritually has been widely studied by a number of
researchers and academics across several
disciplines but remains to be elusive in terms of
having a standard definition.
➢ Highlighting the mind-body-spirit connection, the
spiritual self is an ongoing, personal life journey,
contextualized by the belief in a higher being,
culture, relationships, nature, and the discovery of
meaning in one’s life.
Spirituality
➢ Aspect of the self that is associated with an
individual’s process of seeking and expressing
meaning and how he/she is connected to the self,
to others, to the moment and to everything else
that composes his/her environment, including the
sacred and significant.
➢ Any experience that is thought to bring the
experiencer in contact with the divine; it is not just
any experience that feels meaningful.
➢ Posited as the individual’s personal relation to the
sacred or transcendent, a relation that then informs
other relationships and the meaning of one’s own
life.
➢ Personal and private beliefs that transcend the
material aspects of life and give a deep sense of
wholeness, connectedness, and openness to the
infinite.
Spirituality talks about meaning and purpose that go
beyond the physical realities of life.
❖ Phenomena happening in the environment and
personal experiences one goes through are
observed, and subsequently, meanings are
assigned and philosophical rationalizations about
why they happen are achieved.
❖ The meaning and rationalizations one makes
influence the way life is viewed and become the
basis for one’s value orientations and personal
standpoints.
Spirituality is focused on a person’s connections to
different aspects of his/her existence: to other people,
to nature, and to sacredness and divinity.
❖ In the pursuit of and applying meaning to one’s life,
relationships are created and sustained not only
with people but with other life forms or with a
higher being.
❖ The way people relate to others, to family
members, to peers in school, and to nature speaks
of an individual’s core values.
Spirituality talks about the sacred and transcendent.
❖ In believing that death is inevitable, the different
beliefs of what comes afterwards shape how
people choose to act and live their lives. The
search for sacredness is also triggered by the drive
to attain peace and life fulfillment.
❖ Acceptance and/or contentment is fostered and
established despite problems that may occur.
Many spiritual traditions encourage participation in a
community. Spiritual fellowship can be a source of social
support that may provide a sense of belonging, security,
and community.
Strong relationships have been proven to increase
well-being and bolster life expectancy, which is perhaps
why one study found a strong association between church
attendance and improved health, mood, and well-being.
Spirituality is a natural part of one’s developmental process.
Its biological influence is rooted in how it is initially based on
the awareness of what happens in the environment.
Further, in search for identity and ultimately, the self, it is
important to contemplate about the here and now, as well
as the future.
However, people are not born with innate spirituality. It is
something acquired as a result of various personal, social,
and environmental factors present throughout one’s
lifetime.
Religiosity
➢ defined as the adherence to a belief system and
practices associated with a tradition in which there
is agreement about what is believed and practiced.
➢ formal attachment to the set of beliefs, values, and
practices of a particular religious sector.
➢ includes specific practices, proscriptions (what
should not be done and avoided), and participation
in a specific community that shares the same
beliefs and practices
➢ the belief in and worship of a superhuman
controlling power, especially a personal God or
gods.
➢ a particular system of faith and worship
➢ an experience; a systematic attribution of human
➢ characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or
object
The traditional concept based on Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam regards god as an independent being, the creator of
the universe, and distinct from the universe that this
supreme being created. It is widely accepted that this god is
the highest being who shows concern for the suffering of
humankind, the face of justice that manifests ultimate forms
of rationality and morality.
All agree that this supreme being is omnipotent
(all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent
(everywhere at once).
THE FOUR DIMENSIONS OF RELIGION
1.) Belief
- generalized system of ideas and values that shape
how members of a religious group come to
understand the world around them.
2.) Rituals
- are the repeated physical gestures or activities
such as prayers and mantras, used to reinforce
religious teachings, elicit spiritual feelings, and
connect worshippers with a higher power.
3.) Spiritual Experience
- refers to the promise of access to some form of
unique spiritual experience or feeling of immediate
connection to a higher power.
4.) Social Forms of Community
- religious beliefs and practices unite in one single
community called a Church, all those who adhere
to them.
Specific practices like going to church and participating in
religious events are usually practiced by an individual
through the influence of parents.
Teachers sometimes aid in understanding the importance of
attending religious affairs through the inclusion of such
activities in school programs.
Even the media established its influence to the watching
public through programs that highlight morals, values, and
religious views which in turn shape one's character.
Religiosity
● Communal
● beliefs and practices are within
religious groups, and religious
commitment, conservatism,
and skepticism are manifested
● a religious person is someone
who believes on a god or group
of gods and consciously
adheres to the beliefs of his/her
religion
Spirituality
● individual
● attributes include the need for
spiritual quest, ecumenical
worldviews, compassion,
service, and inner peace
● a spiritual person places little
importance on beliefs and is
more concerned with growing
and experiencing the Divine
MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING
Logotherapy. - based on the guided principle that the
primarymotivational force of every individual is to find
meaning in life; anchored on three basic principles:
1. Ilife has meaning under all circumstances, eve the
most miserable ones;
2. the impetus to live is one's will to discover meaning
in life; and
3. Humans are free to discover meaning in everything
they do, in what they experience, or at least in the
decision they make when faced with immutable
suffering.
Regardless of how long one lives, one's life still has
meaning. Humans continually search for and work on their
meanings for Frankl, there are three ways to find meaning
in life: 1) doing an action, 2) having personal experiences
and interpersonal interactions, and 3) evaluating one's
attitude in the midst of suffering.
Well-Being and Life Satisfaction
Well-being, being intrinsic in nature, is an inner, personal
construct, associated with self-esteem, and
self-understanding,
On the other hand, life satisfaction is the contentment one
has with the direction their life is going, the circumstances
they find themselves in, and the elements that make up
their life's conditions.
When well-being and life satisfaction are present,
happiness naturally flows.
● Personality
● Cognition
● Physical Health
● Vigor
● Environmental factors
● Socio-economic Status
● Home and Social Environment
● Interpersonal Relationships
● Education
Life satisfaction is also dependent on whether basic needs
and other goals are met. Healthy mindsets can lead to
healthy lifestyles should also be adopted. Engaging in
forward thinking (enabling forethought and planning) and
becoming community oriented are only some of the things
that can be done to enhance the overall quality of life
Within the context of spirituality, being cognizant of one's
purpose in life, accepting limitations and celebrating
strengths, enabling love and concern for others, and
engaging in behaviors that embody all these will