Spiritual Self

aspect of self that is associated with an individual’s

\-process of seeking and expressing meaning

\-how he or she is connected to the self, to others, to the moment, and to everything else that composes his or her environment, including the sacred and significant

Spiritual Self

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.

Spiritual Self

talks about MEANING AND PURPOSE that go beyond the physical realities of life

Spirituality

The concept of the “whole person” is usually associated with the idea of human beings as having 

physical and psychological

third aspect of being human 

spiritual aspect

3 connection in the spiritual self

mind-body-spirit connection

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUALITY

1. Individual

2. Spiritual attributes (like the need for a spiritual quest, ecumenical world views, compassion, service, and inner peace)

3. Not anchored on any religious orientation

4. Personal & subjective experience (varies from person to person)

3 Precepts of Spirituality

1. meaning and purpose that go beyond the physical realities of life.

2. connections to different aspects of existence

3. being sacred and transcendent

The SPIRITUAL ME is described based on three major contexts

1. one's inner thinking and feeling self

2. The true, the intimate, the ultimate, the permanent me that a person seeks

3. the "core" and "sanctuary of our life “,

the highest level of self-organization, more advanced than the "material me" and the "social me."

An implication of psychodynamic theories for spiritual identity development is that individuals may develop a sense of their spiritual selves in…

connection and continuity with God

According to Erikson (1996), the **objects** that shape the spiritual self includes

one's parents and one's God.

\
Erikson purported that the parent-child relationship is "transferred" to a God-spiritual child relationship.

Cognitive theorists conceptualize identity development as a

meaning-making process

Elkind (1997) posited that developing individuals have a "cognitive need capacity" to know that life has ________

 life has permanence

specifically that their lives have permanence (eternal identites)

Elkind further proposed that __________ provides answers to the question of permanence as well as fills subsequent "**need capacities**": needs to symbolize, to relate to, and to understand God.

religion

Narrative theorists proposed that individuals achieve **spiritual identities by**

linking their life stories to the narratives of a religious community system and to their ongoing stories of personal revelation from God.

These spiritual ________ may give individuals a sense of life continuity through eternal life stories and of connection to God through spiritual self-to-God story themes.

narratives

Individual Differences in Spiritual Identity:

• the religious orientation

• personality characteristics

• previous spiritual experiences of the person

Spirituality is focused on

a person’s connections to different aspects of his or her existence

Spirituality talks about

the sacred and transcendent

Spirituality is a natural part of

one’s developmental process

The adherence to a belief system and practices associated with a tradition in which there is agreement about what is believed and practiced.

Religiosity

It is formal attachment to the set of beliefs values and practices of a particular religious sect.

Religiosity

It includes specific practices, proscriptions and participation in a specific community that shares the same beliefs and practices

Religiosity

can be starting point for spirituality

Religiosity

BENEFITS OF SPIRITUALITY

The search for sacredness and transcendence can bring positive consequences to life.

• find contentment and serenity in life circumstances

• entails wisdom, self-transcendence, acceptance of life, and meaningful existence

• through spirituality, questions such as “Am I a good person?” and “How can I live my life to the fullest?” are answered

• become resilient amidst challenges and roadblocks that occur in daily life.

How is spirituality enhanced through parents, schools, and teachers?

**Parents** should foster quality parent-child relationships to have a significant positive influence on spiritual orientation.

**Schools** should introduce programs and interventions which include retreats, recollections, seminars, and worship.

**Teachers** should utilize teaching strategies that foster contemplation, reflection, and self-evaluation can strengthen one’s spiritual well-being.

The best way of enhancing spirituality

The best way of enhancing spirituality lies within the SELF: It is not about finding meaning in life, but rather, how meaning is applied to life.

T/F

Religion and spirituality are not synonymous with each other yet religion can be a starting point for one to develop his/her spirituality.

True

He proposes that religion provides answers to the question of permanence as well as fills subsequent "need capacities": needs to symbolize, to relate to, and to understand God.

Elkind

He proposes that the objects that shape the spiritual self includes one’s parents and one’s God.

Erickson

This theory believes that spiritual identity can be achieved by linking one’s life story to the narratives of the religious community system and to the ongoing stories of personal revelation from God.

Narrative theory

 T/F

Our spiritual life is far more important than our physical and psychological life.

**False.**

Spiritual, physical, and psychological life are equally important to the self.