1. What Is This Strength?
Within the VIA Character Strengths model, spirituality is defined as a search for or connection with the sacred, and a set of beliefs and practices that imbue life with meaning and purpose. Unlike religious doctrine, spirituality is personal and may–or may not–align with formal faith traditions. In essence, it asks: What makes life truly significant? Why does any of this matter?
To measure spirituality, researchers use tools like the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). Participants respond to items such as, “I have beliefs that give my life meaning and purpose,” or “I feel connected to something larger than myself.”
Spirituality is not peripheral. Steger et al. (2006) found that people high in spirituality report greater life satisfaction and resilience against depression, underscoring how vital this strength is for flourishing.
2. Behavior & Examples
Spirituality varies widely in its daily expression:
- High Expression: You may reflect deeply, find awe in routine moments, or feel moved by a sense that life is sacred.
- Low Expression: You may focus mostly on tangible concerns, rarely contemplating greater purpose or “why” questions.
How spirituality shows up in daily life–three real-world portraits:
- Elder Care Nurse: Finds meaning through compassionate acts, viewing each interaction as a small legacy.
Coaching reflection: How does your work connect you to something larger? - Artist: Channels wonder into creativity, exploring the “mystery behind the visible.”
Coaching prompt: Where do you see the sacred in your daily practice? - Outdoor Guide: Uses nature as a portal for transcendence, facilitating awe for others.
Coaching prompt: What rituals help you feel anchored?
3. Strengths & Pitfalls
Benefits of Spirituality:
- Facilitates resilience during stress and adversity
(Park, 2005: Greater spiritual well-being linked to better coping under crisis) - Encourages pro-social behavior and empathy
(Emmons, 2005: Spiritual practices predict higher compassion) - Linked with longer life and better physical health
(Koenig et al., 2012: Higher spirituality correlates with reduced mortality rates) - Elevates sense of purpose and meaning
(Steger et al., 2006)
Pitfalls if Overused or Misapplied:
- Can foster dogmatism or exclusion if beliefs become rigid
- Risks “spiritual bypassing”–avoiding pain by retreating into abstract ideas
- Sometimes leads to neglecting personal needs in the name of a higher cause
4. Cross-Domain Parallels
- Big Five: Aligns with high Openness to Experience–curiosity and imagination about what exists beyond the obvious.
- MBTI: Closely linked to Intuition (N), which values possibilities, patterns, and higher meaning.
- Ayurveda: Parallels the Vata dosha–airy, inspired, drawn to ideas that lift us above the mundane.
- Zodiac: Echoes Pisces–empathic, imaginative, and seeking unity with the world.
- Hero Archetypes: Matches the Sage or Mystic–wisdom-seeking, but risks detachment from practical life.
Integration Map: Picture spirituality as a hue blending with curiosity, emotional intelligence, and pragmatism–a dynamic palette spanning science and soul.
5. This Strength in Lifemap’s Life Categories
- Career: Inspires purpose-driven work.
Prompt: How do your beliefs guide your career decisions? - Relationships: Deepens empathy and understanding.
Prompt: How do you honor others’ worldviews? - Family: Shapes meaningful rituals.
Prompt: What family traditions connect you to something bigger? - Emotional: Sustains hope in tough moments.
Prompt: What beliefs help you persevere? - Spiritual: Fosters transcendence and awe.
Prompt: What helps you feel connected beyond yourself? - Health & Fitness: Promotes holistic well-being.
Prompt: How do you care for your body and spirit? - Lifestyle: Anchors daily habits to deeper values.
Prompt: Which of your routines express your beliefs? - Financial: Encourages stewardship and generosity.
Prompt: How do your values guide your spending? - Community: Builds a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Prompt: Where do you find collective meaning? - Creativity: Sparks awe and inspiration.
Prompt: What role does wonder play in your creativity? - Learning: Fuels curiosity about life’s complex questions.
Prompt: What are you most compelled to understand? - Life Vision: Grounds your long-term direction in purpose.
Prompt: What’s the “why” behind your ambitions?
6. The Lifemap Holistic Coaching Perspective
Spirituality, while essential, is only one facet of a whole life. True self-knowledge balances spiritual insight with clear thinking, emotional awareness, and values-driven behavior.
At Lifemap, we help you see how spirituality fits among your personal strengths, habits, and philosophy. Our multidimensional approach combines evidence-based guidance, practical coaching, and ancient wisdom, inviting you to craft not just a belief system, but a living, breathing “why” for your journey.
Integration Map: Imagine a painter blending colors–spirituality becomes one shade among many, harmonized with your unique attributes through coached self-exploration.
7. Conclusion & Coaching Call-to-Action
Understanding spirituality is more than checking a box on a list of strengths. As Hill and Pargament (2008) remind us, spiritual development predicts lasting well-being and adaptation across life’s unpredictable chapters.
Remember: character strengths are invitations to inquiry, not boxes to fit into. Your path is uniquely yours.
Curious to go deeper? Try Lifemap’s free 7-day Hero’s Journey–an email experience that helps you forge purpose from insight and action. Step in, and see what’s possible.
– Valentin
