Spirituality is a term that has become something of a buzzword as more and more people identify as spiritual rather than religious. Spirituality is a broader concept that encompasses all of the things that can give meaning, purpose and value to life. It is more than just religion or a particular belief system, but also includes activities such as yoga, meditation, hiking and even scuba diving.
It may involve the pursuit of enlightenment or nirvana, or it could be found in a quest for a higher consciousness and understanding of the world and nature. It can include a desire to be of service to others or to make a difference in the world, and it could be the pursuit of self-transcendent emotions such as love, compassion, humility, awe and wonder.
Research shows that spirituality is an important aspect of human identity. It influences personal relationships and decision making, it can support coping with illness and loss, and it can be associated with improved quality of life.
However, there is no one definition of spirituality and research into the subject is challenging because it is hard to separate out the different dimensions that can be associated with this concept. This article focuses on exploring and analyzing the current scientific literature to identify definitions of spirituality and the specific dimensions that they represent. It also discusses the implications of these findings for research and clinical practice. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to help readers better understand how they can incorporate spirituality into their lives and to help researchers develop more effective tools for studying this phenomenon.
