Experts’ definitions of spirituality
Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. ... An opening of the heart is an essential aspect of true spirituality.
The word “spirit” is derived from the Latin words “spiritus” (meaning
breath, courage, vigor, or soul) and the word “spirare” (meaning to
breathe) .
Five characteristics of spirituality include: meaning, value,
transcendence, connecting (with oneself, others, God/supreme power and
the environment), and becoming (the growth and progress in life )
Christina Puchalski, MD, Director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, contends that "spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred." Nurses Ruth Beckmann Murray and Judith Proctor Zenter write that “the spiritual dimension tries to be in harmony with the universe, and strives for answers about the infinite, and comes into focus when the person faces emotional stress, physical illness, or death.”
According to Mario Beauregard and Denyse O’Leary, researchers and authors of The Spiritual Brain, “spirituality means any experience that is thought to bring the experience into contact with the divine (in other words, not just any experience that feels meaningful).”
Spirituality is a very personal experience, and everyone’s spiritual
path may be unique. Research shows, however, that some spiritual stress
relief strategies have been helpful to many, regardless of faith. Some things you can do to start exploring spirituality include:
Scientists and researchers have studied spiritual health from different angles and offered various definitions for it, but have failed to propose a comprehensive definition for the term. Major challenges for addressing issues related to spiritual health include: providing a comprehensive definition for it; identifying the components and indicators of spiritual health; and its effect on other aspects of health. Even though a number of studies have been conducted on the subject of spiritual health in Iran
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