Spiritual Self • Seeking a meaningful connection with something

bigger than yourself can result in increased

Spirituality positive emotions.
• a belief in God and active participation in • Transcendent moments are filled with peace,
organized religion awe, and contentment. Emotional and spiritual
• non-religious experiences that help them get in wellbeing overlap, like most aspects of wellbeing.
touch with their spiritual selves • Self-transcendent emotions are linked to
• through quiet reflection, time in nature, private increased spirituality (Saroglou, Buxant, &
prayer, yoga, or meditation. Tilquin, 2008).

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” – Jesus Self- transcendent emotions- connect us all through
prosocialbehavior (stellar et al., 2017).
BODHIDARMA, BUDDHIST MONK compassion awe elevation
“To find Buddha all you have to do is see your nature. gratitude appreciation love
Your nature is the Buddha.” inspiration admiration

THE UPANISHADS (HINDUISM)

These emotions have a particular capability of bonding
“The One God is hidden in all living things.” individuals together. They are linked with higher levels of
spirituality. As self-transcendent emotions are focused on
LAME DEER, SIOUX CHIEF
others, more meaningful, purpose-filled interactions are
“All animals have power because the Great Spirit dwells possible.
in all of them.”
Many positive psychology interventions are grounded in
EINSTEIN ancient religious and spiritual teachings, which are not
typically included in treatment for psychopathology. There
“When you examine the lives of the most influential are empirically validated interventions for the following
people who have ever walked among us, you discover four virtues: hope, gratitude, forgiveness, and self-
one thread that winds through them all. They have been compassion (Rye, Wade, Fleri, & Kidwell,2013).
aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then with
their physical selves.” By exploring the psychological theory behind these four
virtues, science and spirituality can collectively serve
ETYMOLOGY more people.
Latin word "Spiritus" Strengthening Spirituality- Learning and applying the
fundamentals of life: forgiveness, being kind, having a
which means "breath"-breath of life giving heart, being honest, and overall just being a good
person.
• opening our hearts and cultivating our capacity to
experience awe, reverence, and gratitude. 1. Start small & make new habits easy.
• the ability to see the sacred in the ordinary, to Becoming more spiritual can be as simple as staying
know the passion of existence and to give silent for 5–10 minutes a day in a quiet, soothing
ourselves over to that which is greater than environment.
ourselves. 2. Commit
Why is spirituality important in understanding Love yourself enough to attempt to find moments of
oneself? transcendent emotions daily.
3. Practice
Spirituality &Psychology Human beings must practice mindful attention to their
thoughts, emotions, and behavior to find experiences in
Okpalaenwe (2014, p.68) believes that counselling spirituality.
psychology helps one to know and understand ones 4. Study
spiritual self, in times of trouble and in times of joy. To be Explore others’ experiences of spirituality, whether
at home with it, own it and move higher to deeper meaning through religion or personal journeys.
of life. The goal of holistic balance in the body, mind, and 5. Letting Go of Ego
soul of clients gives them a brighter outlook on life and a We worry, fret, fear, go back and forth with decisions...
calmer, more peaceful inner life. Enough! It is just our ego talking.
Broaden & Build Theory
-The meaning of "spirituality" is different for everyone.
• Fredrikson -We continue to search for meaning embedded in each
• Spirituality describes a much broader person's life.
understanding of an individual’s connection with -The whole earth is spiritual even before the advent of
the transcendent aspects of life. religion, our great grandfathers live spiritually and in
psychological contact with one another.