A person cultivates a sense of connection to something larger than the individual self and seeks an integrated, meaningful life. That orientation is spirituality. It may occur inside or outside formal religious institutions.

Spirituality emphasizes personal experience, practice, and transformation. Common elements include meditation, ethical living, awe before nature or art, and service. Some identify as spiritual but not religious, signaling distance from organized doctrine while retaining transcendent concern. Traditional religions contain their own spiritual disciplines and mystical streams.

The contemporary interest in spirituality reflects both dissatisfaction with institutional religion and enduring human needs for meaning and depth. Critics note the risk of vague self-absorption; practitioners point to genuine growth in compassion and resilience. Spirituality remains a fluid term covering a wide range of serious quests.

• Personal orientation toward transcendent meaning
• May be religious or independent of institutions
• Emphasizes experience and practice
• Addresses the search for integrated life