As the aging process continues, our lives slowly resort to being more internal than external. Our bodies undergo a lot of change that slows us down physically, so life becomes more of an inward journey. Seniors especially have to grapple with emotions as they start to deal with life’s greatest questions. Spirituality is one of them.
Spirituality is a deeply personal, inward, and often private affair, so there is not one understanding of what spirituality is or means. Gerontologists have relied on a definition of spirituality given by the 1971 White House Conference on Aging: “… pertaining to man’s inner resources, especially his ultimate concern the basic value around which all other values are focused, the central philosophy of life – whether religious, anti-religious, or nonreligious – which guides a person’s conduct, the supernatural and nonmaterial dimensions of human nature.” This definition captures the true essence of spirituality: that it is the most basic value around which we orient our lives. This basic value may or may not be religious; it may or may not even include the supernatural. What is important is that this value is the primary concern. As a result, our actions and thoughts are consistently redirected to this basic value as a guiding principle for one’s life.
As life becomes a different journey for seniors, spiritual well-being is just as important. Here are a few different ways for seniors to explore and get in touch with their spirituality:
- Volunteering. A simple act of kindness to help others can help seniors engage with a lot of positive emotions. If seniors look for opportunities to help others around the community — if not at a physical level then at an emotional level — the positive emotions will end up benefiting them at a spiritual, emotional, and physical level.
- Meditation & Yoga. Clearing one’s mind physically and mentally helps one engage with their inner self. In doing so, seniors can become more aware of their basic value for life and become more concerned with that than the distractions this world can bring.
- Prayer. If what is valued most includes the supernatural, prayer helps to engage directly with the supernatural. The positive outcomes include, but are not limited to, improving one’s confidence in their basic value, reducing stress or anxiety, or giving hope and clarity into life’s battles.
- Journaling. Writing is a great way to express one’s self. Journaling thoughts and feelings onto paper helps put one in touch with their truest self. Reading what is written is also a particularly spiritual experience as one is reminded of who they are and what they value most.
These are practical ways to tend to one’s spiritual well-being. The goal in all these practices is to point seniors to what they value most, and retirement age is the perfect time for this. If a loved one needs help finding senior living communities that encourage spiritual practices, WellPath Partners can lead you in the right direction.
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By: Jonathan Reza
Office Support Specialist at WellPath Partners
B.S. in Philosophy at University of Redlands
M.A. candidate in Philosophy at California State University, Long Beach
