Spiritual Health Pt I: Introduction

Spirit, Faith, and the Search for Meaning

Western thought has long been shaped by materialism — the belief that everything that exists is physical in nature and can be explained by physical processes. Within the familiar framework of body, mind, and spirit, the body represents the physical, the mind (the psychological), and we’re left wondering: what exactly is the spirit? Is it everything else — or is it everything? Is it something — or nothing at all?

Recently I’ve been studying Paul Chek’s Spirit Gym, a course that explores spirituality as myth — not in the sense of falsehood, but as the story that gives life meaning. Our myth is our underlying narrative, the lens through which we see the world. Most of us not only live by our stories but mistake them for rational truth.

The word spirit itself comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning “breath” or “wind.” Across languages and traditions, it symbolizes the life force or divine presence — the immaterial essence that animates existence.

Looking Down and Looking Up

To me, spirituality is the act of looking beyond oneself — what some might call “looking up.” It’s stepping back to see the forest rather than fixating on a single tree.

By contrast, materialism looks down — seeking understanding through what can be seen, measured, or explained. It’s the microscope, the data, the logic. Both views are valuable. The material gives us precision; the spiritual gives us perspective. Together, they help us grasp both the tree and the forest — both detail and meaning.

Spirit Across Traditions

Across cultures and centuries, thinkers and healers have understood the spirit as the animating force of life — that which drives growth, resilience, love, and transcendence. Recognizing these perspectives reminds us that true health is not just the absence of disease, but the alignment of body, mind, and spirit in harmony.

Tradition / Framework	Core Definition of Spirit	Primary Function or Role	Relationship to Body & Soul	Practical Implication / Expression
Christian Theology (Aquinas & Biblical View)	The immaterial, divine aspect of the human person — the breath of God (ruach, pneuma).	Unites the person with God; source of intellect, will, and moral awareness.	Body: material vessel Soul: life principle Spirit: eternal, God-directed essence.	Live “in the Spirit” — cultivate faith, virtue, and love of God and neighbor.
Philosophical (Aristotelian-Thomistic)	The rational, non-material principle of life and consciousness.	Enables intellect, reasoning, and freedom; “form” of the body.	Body and soul form a single substance; spiritual faculties transcend matter.	Seek truth and virtue through reason; live according to natural law.
Eastern Traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism)	The universal life energy or consciousness underlying all existence (Atman, Chi, Prana).	Connects the individual to the cosmic or divine order; vehicle of enlightenment.	Body is transient; Spirit is eternal or returns to the whole.	Practice meditation, detachment, compassion, and harmony with the Tao.
Judaism (Hebrew Ruach Elohim)	God’s breath or wind — the divine power that animates and sustains life.	Gives life, prophecy, and wisdom; presence of God within creation.	Soul (nephesh): living being Spirit (ruach): divine energy in motion.	Live in alignment with God’s covenant and moral law.
Islamic Tradition	Ruh — the divine spirit breathed into humanity as a sign of God’s creative power.	Source of knowledge, moral accountability, and awareness of God (taqwa).	Spirit is distinct yet dependent on God; body returns to dust, spirit to God.	Purify the heart, remember God (dhikr), and align the will with divine command.
Modern Psychological / Humanistic View	The inner vitality, courage, or sense of purpose that animates personality.	Drives creativity, resilience, meaning-making, and moral conscience.	Integrated within the psyche; metaphorical rather than metaphysical.	Expressed through love, art, service, and authentic self-expression.
New Age / Contemporary Spirituality	Universal consciousness or energy connecting all beings.	Awakens intuition and unity; transcends ego and separation.	Body: temporary vessel Spirit: infinite awareness or vibration.	Practice mindfulness, energy healing, and unity consciousness.

Across traditions, spirit points toward a shared truth:

• It is life-giving — the breath or animating essence of existence.

• It is transcendent — pointing beyond the material toward meaning and connection.

• It is unifying — linking self, others, and the divine.

  
  

  “Body gives us form, soul gives us feeling, and spirit gives us purpose.”

Faith and Spirituality

Faith is trust or confidence in something greater, while spirituality is the personal experience of connection with that greater reality. Faith provides the compass — direction and foundation. Spirituality provides the journey — movement, discovery, and lived relationship.

A growing concern is that more people are losing both. Many have lost faith in people, institutions, and God. They feel disconnected and uncertain that their actions hold meaning. Yet faith and spirituality, when joined, remind us that meaning is not given — it is cultivated.

The Existential Crossroads

An existential crisis is that moment when the story you’ve been living no longer feels true. It’s the confrontation with life’s fundamental questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What really matters?

These crises are often triggered by major transitions — death, divorce, aging, burnout, or even achieving success and still feeling empty.

An existential crisis can go one of two ways:

• Avoidance — leading to despair, detachment, and hopelessness.

• Growth — leading to deeper self-awareness, renewed purpose, and philosophical maturity.

It’s the pain of transformation — the kind that burns away illusion and forces you to become who you were meant to be.

The Mystery of Spirit

Spirituality is not an abstract idea — it’s life itself. It’s the process of trying. It’s the faith that tomorrow may come — if not for you, then for someone you love. It’s the quiet desire to leave the world a little better than you found it.

Spirituality is reflection, joy, and pain. It’s curiosity asking why, and humility accepting you’ll never fully know. It’s the lifelong pursuit of understanding — the continual turning toward God, Allah, Yahweh, the Great Spirit, or the Source.

In the end, it means nothing and it means everything. It is the practice of seeking to see God in all things — and in doing so, realizing that He’s been there all along.

When Your Crisis Comes, Smile

When your crisis comes — and it will — smile.

It means you’re awake.

It means your spirit is alive.