Traditionally, spiritual well-being has often been studied through a narrow, non-secular lens, closely tied to organised religion and its associated rituals, beliefs, and communities. In this view, religiosity becomes a proxy for spirituality, often limiting research and practice to denominational practices, attendance, and doctrinal adherence.
Yet, this limited frame underestimates the true breadth and transformative power of spiritual well-being. While studies show that even this narrower religious perspective correlates positively with subjective well-being — via social support, emotional resilience, and coping mechanisms — these benefits likely only scratch the surface.
The Handbook of Well-Being (Diener, Oishi, Tay) affirms that religiosity can enhance well-being through:
- Greater social integration via religious community.
- Emotional regulation and coping through meaning-making.
- Positive religious emotions like awe, gratitude, and inner peace.
However, even in this restricted framework, spirituality emerges as more than doctrinal belief — it involves practices (e.g. mindfulness, fasting, pilgrimage), meaning, and transcendence of self, pointing towards a broader truth.
A More Expansive View: Soul-Focus, Self-Transcendence, and Oneness
Beyond the religious context, a secular or post-religious conception of spirituality (as explored in positive psychology and philosophical traditions) recognises that spiritual well-being is a higher-order psychological development — one that transcends ego and material attachments.
In this broader view, spiritual well-being includes:
- A soul-centric orientation, focused on self-knowledge and service.
- A desire for self-transcendence, moving from individual to collective concerns.
- Altruism, compassion, and connectedness as defining attributes.
- An aspiration toward unity, wholeness, and contributing to a better world.
This aligns with the eudaimonic strand of well-being described in the Handbook — centred on meaning, purpose, and virtue rather than hedonic pleasure.
Why It Matters
A purely non-secular view may miss the full potential of spiritual development as a catalyst for well-being. If spiritual well-being is merely defined by religiosity, we risk overlooking:
- The deeply personal, often non-theistic, experiences of transcendence.
- The role of philosophical inquiry, ecological consciousness, and inner transformation.
- Spirituality as an evolutionary step in human psychological development — a movement from ego-centred to eco-centred or cosmos-centred identity.
The Handbook of Well-Being begins to hint at this shift — with sections on meaning-making, self-determination, and the role of virtue and purpose. Yet, it is in dialogue with thinkers like Maslow (self-transcendence), Wilber (integral development), and the Priscus Theologia traditions that we uncover the full spectrum of spiritual well-being.
Conclusion
Even within its narrower religious framing, The Handbook of Well-Being provides strong evidence of the positive relationship between spiritual practices and subjective well-being. But to truly understand and leverage the power of spiritual well-being, we must embrace a more inclusive, philosophical, and soul-oriented view — one that reflects the human capacity for kindness, connectedness, and co-creation of a better world.
Academy of Life Planning 