Want a healthier culture and society? Then, take the time to understand different spiritual perspectives. It will bring the meaning of living in spirit to life. The keys to living in the spirit are within your grasp if you open your mind to the possibilities.
The term spirit or spiritual has different meanings depending on the context or user. Unpacking the other perspectives, you gain a richer, more complete picture. You can use this picture to make an informed decision about how this concept fits into your life.
Let’s begin by unpacking the terms that we will use to prevent any confusion. Then, we’ll define the keys to living in the spirit and examine the various perspectives. Finally, we’ll give some examples of how these different views affect us.
Understand Different Spiritual Perspectives
When we define the words we use, it clarifies their meaning and context. We’ll start with the title of this section.
To understand something is to know how it works.
The term spirit or spiritual refers to the non-physical, conscious aspect of the mind. Ancient cultures called this the spirit or soul. Some referred to this as the observer. Science refers to it as consciousness and awareness. In today’s culture, these terms are used interchangeably.
Our perspective is a filter that provides automatic valuations and judgments. It tells us what is right and wrong. It is a function of our mindset.
A mindset is an element in the hierarchy of a cognitive framework. This mental construct includes our mindset, worldview, and paradigm.
- A mindset is a way of thinking and interpreting things.
- Worldview is an overall perspective of beliefs and values that guide your mindset.
- A paradigm is a pattern or worldview shared by a large group.
All three help us understand how people think, but they work in different ways.
A spiritual living mindset refers to a way of life guided by positive values, with a higher purpose that enriches the lives of others and the planet.
When we make the effort to understand different spiritual perspectives, we gain valuable insights. It helps us understand ourselves as well as others.
The Keys to Living In the Spirit
1. Childlike Innocence
Our original state of mind enables us to live with a positive, inclusive sharing mindset. It means living in connection with the observer or soul in control, not the ego.
You must ignite the imagination and the love of play to regain childlike innocence. How do you do this? Simple. Think back to when you played as a child. Start with the situation that made you happy and content as a child. With a spiritual living mindset, we are constantly integrating healthy thinking. It takes us beyond sectarian beliefs.
2. Embracing Inner Work
If we are to return to our original state of being, we must remove and replace the negative programming that hinders our growth. Replacing harmful thought scripts, beliefs, and values takes inner work.
Inner work is the use of processes exploring the mind. They help you to understand your thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. It often involves the use of tools we call spiritual technologies. We divide these tools into four major categories:
3. Presence
Presence is one of the keys to living in the spirit. Being present helps us move toward integration. Being present enables the real you to show up. We accomplish all of our inner cognitive work when we are present. Inner work helps us remove the programming to reveal the “virtues of the spirit.” What are these virtues? These are gifts of our ancestors locked in our DNA.
Intuitive or inspired living means not just passively hearing the voice, but acting on it. — Stephen Nachmanovitch
4. The Virtues of the Spirit
When we cultivate a spiritual living mindset, we gain access to the virtues of the spirit. The “virtues of the spirit” are not goals; they are the higher values possible for each of the nine basic personality types. Everyone has their own path and set of challenges.
These higher virtues correspond to the nine personality types of the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a tool that can help us identify and open our virtues.
The fragrance of the heart is made up of the qualities and virtues of our spirit. Most of us have learned how to keep our hearts closed in a world that would trample all over us if we let it. Being open hearted today seems to require tremendous courage. — Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Osho
5. Exploring The Shadow Self
Exploring the shadow world of the subconscious can expose harmful beliefs and values. Then, we can change the values while using the habitual nature of the mind to empower positive thinking. We do not deny our nature; we learn to transform it with purposeful intention.
To live in the spirit, we must embrace the interplay of light and shadows within us. To grow spiritually, it is important to understand different spiritual perspectives within us.
Our shadow self embodies harmful aspects of our thinking. Yet, revealing this negativity is an opportunity for growth and enlightenment. Every strength is a weakness used in the wrong way, and every weakness is a strength once you learn the proper time and place to use it.
Embracing our shadows grants us valuable insights into our past. It provides perspective to heal wounds and addictions. This process offers a chance to heal, grow, and release the limiting beliefs that hold us back on our spiritual path. By acknowledging and integrating the shadow self, we develop wholeness and authenticity. Integration is an experience of genuine spiritual liberation.
6. Promoting Authenticity
At its core, it means living our most authentic selves. Authenticity requires us to accept and express our light and shadow selves wholeheartedly. By embracing the shadowy aspects of our being, we cultivate compassion and empathy towards ourselves and others. In this state of vulnerability and transparency, we can finally experience freedom and liberation.
7. What Living in the Spirit is Not
It is not about following constraints or boundaries of religious mythology and superstitions. Western theology attempts to usurp the concept of living by the spirit. They equate it with living by faith and accepting the belief in an imaginary friend.
For those who follow the religions of the Abrahamic tree, it means surrendering your free will. It means subjecting yourself to groupthink manipulation tactics. By accepting these myths as facts, you can maintain a paradox of harmful beliefs and values. Myths and superstitions do not help you understand different spiritual perspectives
8. Time to Reflect
What is the meaning of living in spirit to you? Has it always remained the same, or have events or knowledge changed your position?
If you are ready to begin this journey, get out a journal. A paper version is better than an electronic one because your handwriting is part of the process, which can reveal clues about your mindset.
1. Sit quietly for a few minutes with your eyes closed. If you know how to meditate, use your favorite technique to quiet your mind. If you don’t know how to meditate, we have a simple process you can learn from reading an article in less than five minutes.
2. Open your eyes and ask, What is the meaning of living in the spirit?
3. Write the first thing that comes to mind, even if I have no idea.
4. Keep asking this question for about 5 minutes, and you should have a few ideas about what it means to you. If you couldn’t think of anything, then that means something, too. That means you have a lot to gain from integrating your shadow self.
Next, we’ll look at how various perspectives view the concept of Being in spirit. Find those that you align with or want to align with.
Different Perspectives on Living in the Spirit
Society and culture have different views on spirit. Each has an impact on our mindset depending on several factors, such as our location, upbringing, age, and level of education.
Spiritual and Religious Perspectives
Indigenous and Animist Traditions
The idea of “spirit” began with ancient cultures that saw the world as deeply connected. The meaning of living in spirit for many Indigenous traditions is being in harmony with nature and honoring the wisdom of ancestors. People live with respect for the land, animals, and the unseen forces around them.
In animism, everything—trees, rivers, animals, even rocks—is believed to have a spirit. To live in spirit means treating all things with care and keeping balance in the world.
Western Religion
In the Abrahamic religions, living in spirit means following divine guidance and living by sacred teachings. In Christianity, being “in the spirit” usually means being guided by the Holy Spirit. It’s about living with love, kindness, and humility, following the example of Jesus.
In Judaism, the spirit is called Ruach HaKodesh. It’s not seen as a person, but more like a force that helps people stay close to God’s will. While in Islam, the word ruh means soul. It can mean being close to God, especially in Sufi traditions, where people seek deep spiritual joy and connection.
Eastern Religion
Eastern religions often see living in spirit as a personal journey of growth and awareness.
In Hinduism, it can mean living in harmony with dharma, the natural order of life, or reaching a peaceful, meditative state. In Buddhism, it means practicing compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom. It’s about following the Eightfold Path to become more aware and kind. For Taoism, it means going with the flow of life—being in tune with nature and the universe, and letting things happen without forcing them.
Science Perspectives
Philosophy, Psychology, and Science
In philosophy, living “in the spirit” means choosing to live by higher values, like truth or kindness. It’s about having a mindset that reaches for something greater than yourself.
Psychology sees living in spirit as having a healthy and balanced mind. It can mean being true to yourself, living by your values, or feeling connected to something meaningful. Some thinkers use the idea of spirit as a metaphor. It might describe a special state of mind, like feeling intensely focused or inspired.
Existentialism teaches that being in spirit means being honest with who you really are. Idealism says it’s about living by strong principles. Phenomenology looks at how we feel and experience spiritual moments in everyday life.
Jungian psychology talks about symbols and profound truths shared across cultures. Living in spirit means acting in harmony with those inner patterns. Humanistic psychology says it’s about following your inner truth and values. Positive psychology sees being in spirit as the state of mind in which we show gratitude, hope, and purpose.
Neuroscience describes “spirit” as a brain state, like when you’re in the zone or feeling connected. Cognitive science sees it as a way of thinking that helps you act with creativity and intention. Anthropology explores how various cultures express their ideas of spirit. This happens through rituals, beliefs, and traditions. These help people feel connected to something beyond the physical world.
Literary and Artistic Perspectives
Writers and artists often explore what it means to live in spirit through stories, paintings, and music. These creative works help people understand different spiritual perspectives in powerful ways.
In literature, living in spirit means writing in a certain style or honoring a past writer’s voice. In art, it involves being inspired by a teacher or a movement, then expressing that through color and form. In music, especially jazz, it means playing with emotion and intuition. It’s about letting the soul guide the sound.
Social Perspectives
In society, living in spirit can show up in movements that try to make the world better. Activists may act in the spirit of leaders like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., carrying forward values like peace and justice. Civic engagement means caring for your community and working together for good.
Delving Into the Meaning of Living in Spirit
A spiritual living mindset isn’t limited to one tradition or worldview. People can draw inspiration from a wide range of sources. Combining different perspectives helps shape unique mindsets. Such integrations reflect personal histories, cultural influences, and evolving values—not random choices.
Below are examples of how different perspectives can be woven together to create a meaningful spiritual life.
Developing A Spiritual Living Mindset
Some cultivate their spirituality by blending practices and beliefs from multiple traditions. For them, the meaning of living in spirit is about engaging with the divine nature of life in a personal and evolving way. Rather than adhering strictly to one religion, they seek purpose and connection through a variety of paths.
Meditation, common in Eastern traditions like Buddhism and Hinduism, helps calm the mind. Sacred texts from Christianity and Judaism are used for insights, not to bolster belief. Respect for the earth is key. Indigenous teachings show us lessons in balance and reverence. Environmental science supports the need to protect nature.
Self-understanding is another pillar. Therapy and psychology provide tools for exploring emotions, dreams, and habits. Philosophy invites reflection on truth, existence, and meaning. Art and poetry serve as spiritual expressions. Through music, painting, and writing, they explore beauty and creativity as gateways to truth.
Ethical values emerge from a mix of religion, humanism, and lived experience. The goal is to live with kindness, clarity, and openness to growth.
Secular but Spiritual
Spirituality doesn’t need a religious label. Many people adopt a spiritual mindset by embracing values like compassion, fairness, and equality. They see different spiritual views as tools to expand their understanding.
Mindfulness and breathwork offer calm and focus. Insights from psychology and neuroscience reveal how thoughts and emotions shape well-being. A deep concern for the planet guides their actions. Scientific understanding and Indigenous wisdom both inform their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Books, music, and art foster a sense of connection to something greater. These creative outlets become sacred in their own right. Big questions about life and meaning are explored through philosophy and conversation. Ethics are grounded in empathy, reason, and mutual respect.
Traditional but Open-Minded
Some people remain rooted in a single religious tradition while embracing broader ideas. Prayer, worship, and sacred rituals form the foundation of their practice. Yet, they also welcome insights from science, psychology, and social justice.
Belief in a higher power coexists with curiosity about how the brain works and how emotions influence behavior. Personal growth may involve therapy or reading self-help literature.
Commitment to justice and equality goes beyond religious teachings. Their values include social and political causes. Poverty relief, environmental protection, anti-discrimination, and universal human rights are important. Art, music, and literature enhance spiritual life. Practices such as meditation and yoga—though from other traditions—can also be embraced.
Their spirituality may be rooted in religion, but it extends beyond traditional boundaries. It grows through learning, reflection, and acts of compassion.
Rigid Religious Living
These devotees follow their religion with strict adherence, viewing it as the sole truth. Scientific ideas often conflict with their beliefs. So, they are often rejected along with cultures or philosophies that do not align with their beliefs. This mindset can lead to viewing others as less than human or threatening. Rules are followed closely, and conformity is expected. Questioning beliefs or values is discouraged.
Political activism often stems from extreme religious beliefs. Activists aim to shape laws based on these views. Ethics come from strict adherence to doctrine, not personal thought or common values. This method can create a strong identity and purpose. However, it can also lead to fear, division, and harm against those with different beliefs.
Conclusion
A spiritual living mindset can be expansive or narrow, flexible or rigid. Some draw from many sources, while others remain within a single tradition.
The keys to living in spirit lie in practice, not religious dogma. Living from the spirit guides our relationships, our care for the earth, our self-understanding, and our search for meaning.
When we blend perspectives and keep our curiosity alive, we shape a spiritual life that is grounded yet constantly evolving.
References
- Spirituality and Well-Being: Theory, Science, and the Nature. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.
- Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the prevention and amelioration of disease. Behavioral Medicine.
- Cultural perspective on religion, spirituality, and mental health. Frontiers in Psychology.
- A Fragmented Mind: Altered States of Consciousness and Spirit. Neuropsychopharmacology Reports.
- Religion – Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology. American Anthropological Association.