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Exploring Spiritual Development: Pathways to Meaningful Growth

Understand the essence of spirituality in human beings, its definitions, benefits, liability issues, and various stages of faith for personal growth and connection to the universe. Discover activities enhancing self-reflection and well-being in a neutral and supportive environment.

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Exploring Spiritual Development: Pathways to Meaningful Growth

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  1. Spiritual Development William G. Huitt Valdosta State University Last Revised: September 2003

  2. Spirituality • Fundamental to many conceptualizations of human beings • Mind • Body • Spirit • Spirituality is considered inherent quality of human beings • Naturalism • Pantheism • Theism

  3. Spirituality Defined • Attempt to understand and connect to the unknowns of the universe or search for meaningfulness in one’s life (Adler, 1932/1980; Frankl, 1959) • A relationship with the sacred (Beck & Walters, 1977) • An individual's experience of and relationship with a fundamental, nonmaterial aspect of the universe (Tolan, 2002)

  4. Spirituality Defined • Does not necessarily require a belief in God, Great Spirit, Supreme Creator, etc., but does not exclude it • Spirituality not equated with religion • Religion refers to organized, institutionalized set of beliefs, teachings, and practices • Can be spiritual without being religious and vice versa

  5. Issues of Spirituality • Spirituality addresses such questions as: • How can we increase meaning in our lives, in general, and my life, in particular? • Who are we as human beings? Where did we come from? How are we related? • Are we in control of our lives or is our destination a result of fate?

  6. Issues of Spirituality • Spirituality addresses such questions as: • Where did the universe come from? What are its origins? • Is there a God (in whatever way we define or know a Supreme Being)? • What is our relationship to God or the Creator, if there is one? • Is there a continuity of life after this life? If so, what is it like?

  7. Benefits of Spirituality • Improved physical health, including blood pressure • Healthier lifestyles and less risky behavior • Improved coping ability • Less depression • Faster healing • Lower levels of bereavement after the death of a loved one • A decrease in fear of death • Higher school achievement

  8. Liability for Lack of Spirituality • Overeating • Risky behavior • Low self-esteem • Poor health

  9. Fowler’s Stages of Faith 0. Undifferentiated Infancy – Trust I. Intuitive-Projective 3-7 – Fantasy, non-logical II. Mythic-Literal 7-15 – Concrete, good/bad III. Synthetic-Conventional 15-21 – Personal identity IV. Individuative-Reflective Young Adult – Unique V. Conjunctive Mid Adult – Direct, affirm VI. Universalizing Faith ?? – Disciplined activist

  10. Kessler’s Pathways To The Soul Rites of passage • Initiation Beyond personal limits • Transcendence Play, celebration, gratitude • Joy and Delight Awe, mystery of creating • Creative Drive Reflection, calm • Silence and Solitude Exploration of big questions • Meaning and Purpose Quality of relationships • Deep Connection

  11. Relational Consciousness • The exploration of the meaningfulness of our lives and our relationships (Hamilton & Jackson,1998; Hay & Nye, 1998) • to ourselves, • to others, • to nature, or • to a higher power or unknowns of the universe

  12. Relational Consciousness • A type of meta-cognitive activity that describes ever increasing consciousness of growth and opportunity consequences for the individual. • May describe the essence of spirituality. • Development is considered moving from • simple to complex • naïve to sophisticated • insecurity to confidence

  13. General Guidelines • Create conducive environment -- Save, secure, supportive • Any activity that allows students to gain meaningful insights regarding self, others, nature, God or universal unknowns • Provide variety of activities using Kessler’s “Pathways” as a guideline • Maintain neutrality between secular and religious and among religions

  14. Activities Relating To Self • Spirituality and Well-being:http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/selftest/item_234.html • Living Waters Spiritual Assessment Software:http://www.spiritualassessment.com/index.htm • Signature Strengths:http://www.authentichappiness.org/ • Index to Learning Style:http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/ILSdir/ilsweb.html • Jung Typology Personality Test:http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp • Becoming A Brilliant Starhttp://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/brilstar/BrilStaract.pdf

  15. Adler, A. (1932/1980). What life should mean to you. London: George Allen & Unwin. • Beck, P., & Walters, A. (1977). The sacred: Ways of knowledge, sources of life. Tsaile, AZ: Navajo Community College. • Fowler, J. (1981). Stages of faith: The psychology of human development and the quest for meaning. San Francisco: Harper and Rowe. • Frankl, V (1959). Man's search for meaning. New York: Praeger. • Hamilton, D., and Jackson, M. (1998). Spiritual development: Paths and processes. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 25(4), 262-270. • Hay, D., with Nye, R. (1998). The spirit of the child. London: Fount. • Kessler, R. (2000). The soul of education: Helping students find connection, compassion, and character in school. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. • Tolan, S. (2002). Spirituality and the highly gifted adolescent. Charlotte, NC: Author. Retrieved July 2002, from http://www.stephanietolan.com/spirituality.htm http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/brilstar/chapters/spirituality.doc

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