Exploring Personal Spiritual Practices

“You’ll never regret being connected to your own life and being true to the questions and longings that are there,” says Aizaiah Yong, an associate professor of spirituality at the Claremont School of Theology. When Gwen Vogelzang struggled with the pain and grief of infertility, she yearned for spiritual comfort to help her remain centered and avoid spiraling, but she was unsure of where to find it. After becoming a parent through adoption, advocating for her neurodiverse children isolated her from her religious community. Moving across the country and facing the pandemic made finding a lasting church community challenging. As parenting tested her further, she began to form her own spiritual rituals. Staying grounded meant focusing on the present during everyday tasks like washing dishes. Connecting with the natural world, such as observing birds outside, further anchored her. “Spirituality to me is being able to sit in my sunroom and feel the sun on my face and a sense of calm because my ego is not in charge,” Vogelzang states.

Your spiritual practices are personal endeavors that you can tailor, according to Yong. Spiritual rituals, including religious ones, are dynamic, not fixed. You can modify them to add meaning to your life. Whether you follow a particular faith or pursue spirituality outside religion, the following questions can help create your own spiritual practices.

Question 1: What does “something greater” mean to you?

While spirituality varies, it is often defined as your personal connection to something greater than yourself, says psychiatrist Anna Yusim, author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life. Consider what that greater entity represents for you. It could be God, collective consciousness, or values such as faith, love, trust, and perseverance. Spirituality can be sensed by both religious and non-religious people. You might follow a religion but not feel spiritually connected, or feel spiritual without adhering to religion.

Question 2: Where do your spiritual beliefs come from?

To connect with something greater, it’s crucial to understand yourself, according to Yong. He asks, “How do you build a meaningful relationship if you don’t know yourself at all?” Explore your spiritual history and influences. Identify early connections with something beyond yourself. These insights help determine which rituals and connections to keep, discard, or explore further.

Yong’s spirituality is shaped by his multifaceted upbringing. His Chinese Malaysian father was raised Buddhist, and his Mexican American mother was raised Catholic. He visited Hindu temples and Buddhist meditation circles growing up. An ordained Pentecostal Christian minister now, Yong practices his faith interreligiously, drawing from Buddhist and Catholic roots to connect with God.

Question 3: What activities connect you to your spirituality?

Reflect on past experiences that brought you close to your “something greater.” Consider integrating them as rituals or traditions into your life. These practices might be religious, like praying or fasting, or secular, such as walking in nature or journaling.

Rayna Jhaveri, a musician, chef, and writer, finds spiritual connection through music. In her area, she joins singing circles to participate in uplifting group songs. If you’re unsure what separates spiritual practices from regular activities, Yong suggests remembering connections to neighbors, the community, and the Earth. Practices solely aimed at self-improvement, like picking up hobbies, exercising, or socializing, fall short of what humans can achieve.

Question 4: What else can you do to strengthen your spiritual connection?

As you delve into spirituality, you might want to explore new practices creatively. Consider where you’ll find guidance and inspiration. If you’re religious, you may discover fresh practices within your faith. Yusim advises asking, “What can I do to enhance my faith? Is it finding a mentor? What does prayer mean in my religion? Can I pray differently?” You might adopt secular practices outside traditional religious teachings, like treating swimming as a spiritual ritual or drawing inspiration from other cultures by creating an ancestor altar.

If you’re curious about cultural rituals not familiar to you, Yong recommends grounding your interest in personal relationships. For instance, if you wish to explore Buddhist meditation, first engage with someone at a nearby temple or center. Respect the diversity of the world and engage with communities where these practices originate.

Recognizing your spiritual practices can be challenging, but it’s part of the journey, says Yong. “You’ll never regret being connected to your own life and being true to the questions and longings that are there.”