personspirituality

Personspirituality refers to an individual's subjective sense of spirituality—the personal beliefs, meanings, values, and experiences that connect a person to something larger than themselves. It encompasses how people interpret questions of purpose, transcendence, and interconnectedness, and may manifest through beliefs, rituals, and everyday practices.

Although personspirituality can align with organized religion, it emphasizes personal interpretation and integration into daily life rather than adherence to institutional doctrine. It varies across cultures and can be expressed in secular, religious, or mixed forms, reflecting diverse worldviews and experiences.

Core components commonly described in discussions of personspirituality include a sense of meaning and purpose, feelings of connection to others, the natural world, or the sacred, and an ethical or moral framework guiding behavior. Practices such as contemplation, prayer, mindfulness, gratitude, or ritual activities are often associated with personal spirituality, as are moments of awe or transcendent experience.

In research and applied settings, personspirituality is studied as a dimension of well-being, coping, and resilience. Investigations often rely on self-report measures to assess personal significance, meaning, and perceived connectedness, focusing on the individual’s experience rather than doctrinal accuracy or affiliation.

Critiques point to conceptual vagueness, cultural contingency, and risks of essentialism or exclusion. Proponents argue that recognizing personspirituality supports holistic approaches to health, education, and ethical development, and fosters inclusive understandings of human meaning-making beyond rigid religious categories.