Self-Growth And Spirituality - Essential Reading

Spirituality, not religion, is starting to make an increasing dent in the US self-growth discourse. The concept of the soul, and the idea that the average person should have a deeper connection to the world around them, is conducive to serious self-improvement and has been linked to improvements in healthcare outcomes according to one NIH published study. Spirituality as a concept is certainly not new to self-improvement discussions and is historically at the base of many religions; capturing that is done best through essential reading, which can help to chart a course in spirituality and self-growth.

Richard Rohr

While spirituality is not tied to religion, one of the most important voices and authors on spirituality does come from the Christian - Fraciscan - perspective. A staunch priest and yet happy to criticize the Catholic church, his books come from the perspective of personal spirituality and morality. Some of Richard Rohr’s popular books include Falling Upward, which is helpful in establishing spirituality and building resilience, and Everything Belongs, ostensibly about prayer to the Christian God but suitable for the discussion of self-thought and improvement in general. As a New Yorker profile of Rohr notes , while the priest has chosen the Christian faith to foundation his own life, spirituality is an important facet of reflection for any one person, and developing your own sense of soul and purpose can be enormously validating in the quest for self growth and personal strength.

The XIV Dalai Lama

One of the most noted figureheads in global spirituality is the XIV Dalai Lama. According to the Matador Network, his writings can be powerful in influencing people and helping to create a connection with spirituality. In particular, his The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living - a title that hooks in already to many of the goals of self improvement and personal growth - looks at how everyday interactions and the meaning of daily life can build spirituality, creating a symbiotic connection to give real meaning to the pursuit of everyday happiness. This down-to-earth telling of spirituality is important, and can help to bring context to the struggles of daily life.

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Good Housekeeping profiled Abraham Joshua Heschel’s standout publication, The Sabbath, for its spiritual connections - and for good reason. As their profile highlights, the book is ostensibly about the Judeo-Christian observance of the Sabbath , but, in reality, is actually about a lot more than that. A telling of the importance of pursuing everyday happiness over material wealth, it is a powerful tool for those people that have been raised in religious settings, as it helps to put the focus on spirituality and disentangle all of those complicated ties to religion.

Reading about spirituality, especially when given from the viewpoint of religious people who have managed to unearth the distinction between the two, is a powerful self-improvement tool. Rather than being quackery or religious orthodoxy, building an intense personal connection to the soul and spirit is a way to build values that can help to dictate a lifetime.