Republic of the Philippines

BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

City of Naga

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 T COURSE INFORMATION

Programs
Course UNTS 001: Understanding the Self
Classes

Google Class Understanding the Self A/Y 2024-2025 1st Semester

Module 5 Unfolding the Spiritual Self
Sections 1-3
Mode of Delivery Online (Synchronous and Asynchronous)

Note: This module is lifted from the Outcomes-based Module entitled,

“Understanding the Self” authored by Macayan et.al.; therefore, use this module
with care; no part of this may be reproduced or transmitted and shall be used
entirely for academic purpose in this particular course.

OVERVIEW

This module focuses on the spiritual dimensions of the self. It broadly

tackles the different aspects of spirituality from existence, relatedness or
connections, to the inner soul.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, students are expected to:

1. Discuss the nature of spirituality and religiosity and how they are
manifested in daily life;
2. Determine appropriate behaviors expressing one’s love for and affinity
with nature and the environment; and
3. Devise ways to promote one’s own and others’ well-being and life
satisfaction.

PRE-ASSESSMENT

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 LEARNING TASKS

Task 1: Liven Up

Activity 1.a. The Inner Soul

Write a word or word group related to or describing the two concepts below:
Religion Spirituality
e.g. : belief system e.g. : transcendence
Chucrch Silence
PRayer Alone

Processing:
1. What answers did you find unique to each concept?
2. In what ways are they (religion and spirituality) the same?
3. Do you think that a person can be spiritual without being religious? Or be
religious without being spiritual? Defend your stand.

Activity 1.b. Your personal affinity with nature.

Processing:
1. How do you feel about the first picture?
2. What do you see in the second picture? How do you feel about this and
other natural disasters?

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 Activity 1.c. Discovering Life’s Meaning
Valuing: Think of five (5) things that make you happy. It can pertain
to people, objects, qualities and other factors. List them down in order of
priorities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Processing:
1. How does each of these make you happy?
2. If one of these is absent in your life, what do you think will happen?
3. How do you feel about your self at this point in your life, on a scale of 1-5,
5 being the highest or most positive, and 1 being the lowest or most
negative?
4. How do you promote life satisfaction (your own and others’ well-being)
amidst the negative vibrations in our present time?

Task 2: Look Up

Read the succeeding material.

Section 1: The Inner Soul

This section discusses the nature of spirituality, how it is different from
religiosity, the factors that shape one’s spirituality, and its impact on oneself.
 Spirituality
 The concept of the “whole person” is usually associated to the idea
of human beings as having physical and psychological aspects.
However, there is third aspect of being human that is as important
as the 2 precedents: the spiritual aspect.
 Highlighting the mind-body-spirit connection, the spiritual self is an
ongoing, personal life journey, contextualized by the belief in a
higher being, culture, relationships, nature, and the discovery of
meaning in one’s life.
 There are several definitions that have been formulated regarding
spirituality.
 Puchalski (2014), spirituality is the aspect of the self that is
associated to an individual’s process of seeking and
expressing meaning and how he or she is connected to the
self, to others, to the moment and to everything else that
composes his/her environment, including the sacred and
significant.
 Beauregard and O’Leary (2007), spirituality is any experience
that is thought to bring the experiencer in contact with the
divine; it is not just any experience that feels meaningful.

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  Sinnott (2002), spirituality is also posited as the individual’s
personal relation to the sacred or transcendent, a relation
that then informs other relationships and the meaning of
one’s own life.

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  Myers and his colleagues (2000), spirituality is the “personal
and private beliefs that transcend the material aspects of
life and give a deep sense of wholeness, connectedness,
and openness to the infinite.”
 What do these definitions have in common with regard to spirituality?
1. Spirituality talks about meaning and purpose that go beyond the physical
realities of life. Going through development, people are inevitably programmed
to make realizations about life, and those insights are not always about
observable phenomena or environmental experiences.
2. Spirituality is focused on a person’s connections to different aspects of
his/her existence: to other people, to nature, and to sacredness and divinity. In
the pursuit of and applying meaning to one’s life, relationships are created and
sustained not only with people but with other life forms or with a higher being.
3. Spirituality talks about the sacred and transcendent. It is a general belief
that in this vast universe, there is a force higher than the self.
 However, people are not born with innate spirituality. It is
something acquired as a result of various personal, social, and
environmental factors present throughout one’s lifetime. In this
regard, spirituality is related to religiosity, which is often used
interchangeably with the former. There are, however, distinct
differences between the 2.
 Religiosity is defined as the adherence to a belief system and
practices associated with a tradition in which there is agreement
about what is believed and practiced. It is a formal attachment to
the set of beliefs, values, and practices of a particular religious
sect. It includes specific practices, proscriptions (what should not
be done and avoided), and participation in a specific community
that shares the same beliefs and practices.
 However, as one grows older, he/she begins to form questions that
are rooted in religious orientations, slowly making realizations and
insights until his/her search for meaning and transcendence goes
beyond his/her religious orientation.
 There are distinctions between religiosity and spirituality:
 If religiosity is communal, then spirituality is individual.
 In religiosity, beliefs and practices are within religious
groups, and religious commitment, conservatism, and
skepticism are manifested. Spiritual attributes include the
need for spiritual quest, ecumenical worldviews,
compassion, service, and inner peace.
 A person can possess spirituality even if he/she does not
subscribe to any religion. Spiritual models are present
everywhere. They function for respondents as exemplars or
spiritual qualities, such as compassion, self-control, or faith.
Thus, a person can be spiritual without being religious.
 What does spirituality bring to one’s life? For many people, the
search for sacredness and transcendence can bring positive
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 consequences to life. A spiritual person finds contentment and
serenity in his/her life circumstances. Through spirituality,
questions such as “am I a good person?” and “how can I live my
life to the fullest?” are answered. Most importantly, spirituality
allows

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 one to become resilient amidst challenges and roadblocks that
occur in daily life.
 How is spirituality enhanced? The best way of enhancing
spirituality lies within the self. Constant reflection and meditation of
life choices and decisions, developing empathy and compassion
toward other people, and having faith in a higher being can enhance
spiritual intelligence. It is not about finding meaning in life, but
rather, how meaning is applied to life.

Section 2: Connections with Nature

This section discusses the natural affinity people have with nature and similar
constructs, the factors that contribute to such connections, how these relations
to nature are manifested, and how they can be enhanced in the context of one’s
spirituality.
 The Self and the Natural Environment
 The spiritual self is not only tied in one’s connection with a higher
being and other people; it is also related to how people relates to
nature.
 Religiosity aside, a significant number of people have made a
serious commitment to nature by taking care of animals, pledging
advocacy for environmental issues, and practicing daily behaviors
that manifest a growing concern for the world. These are
embodied in the concepts of affinity with nature and ecopsychology.
 Affinity with Nature and Ecopsychology
 Affinity with nature can be defined as the ties that bind people and
nature together. It can also mean nature connectedness, defined
as the extent to which individuals include nature as part of their
identity. If people feel that they are one with nature, then
destroying it can mean self-destruction and vice versa.
 Ecopsychology shares many similarities with the concept of having
affinity with nature. It is concerned with the fundamental
interconnections between humans and the natural world through a
phenomenological and sensorial link, and the integration of
practices based on the notion that direct contact with the natural
world has healing potential.
 While it is fairly obvious that both concepts focus on the connection
of man to nature, their distinction lies on the nature of the
connection they are referring to.
 Affinity with nature highlights the emotional connection with
nature, anchored on positive affective experiences and
authentic love for nature.
 Ecopsychology is based on a transpersonal and philosophical
relationship with nature, highlighting beliefs and practices
that promote and enhance ecological, personal, and
community sustainability.

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  How can affinity with nature and ecopsychology be developed?
 Just like other aspects of self, these are brought about by
experiences with nature and observations about the
environment.

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  Locations are also account for the environmental values and
attitudes an individual has; individuals living in rural areas
are more likely to be mindful of the environment, compared
to urban residents.
 How are connections with nature established and improved?
1. It is not enough that one simply conforms to what society says about
taking care of the environment. Developing an open mind and adopting a
philosophical perspective that advocates for environmental protection and
sustainability is important.
2. The emergence of technology has hampered people’s engagement
with outside activities. It is important to go out, explore the world, immerse
oneself in the beauty of nature, and foster ecologically healthy lifestyles.
3. While not all people are meant for being active environmental advocates,
incremental behaviors toward protecting the environment can go a long way. In
taking care of nature, an individual also takes care of himself/herself, thus
contributing to optimal, healthy development.

Section 3: Discovering Life’s Meaning

This section highlights the concept of well-being and life satisfaction

particularly their aspects, what they mean to an individual, the factors that
contribute to them, and their consequences to daily living. This section also
highlights discuss the significance of well- being and life satisfaction in
today’s challenging times.

 Well-being and Life Satisfaction

 Human beings are naturally inclined to assess their life, reflect on the
choices they have made, evaluate the consequences of such choices,
and learn lessons from various experiences.
 Well-being and life satisfaction are interchangeably used but there is a
thin line that distinguishes one from the other.
 Well-being, being intrinsic in nature, is an inner, personal construct,
associate with self-esteem, and self-understanding. It is how good one
feels about himself/herself.
 Life satisfaction is also intrinsic but in this case, it is the general
attitude towards life. When well-being and life satisfaction are present,
happiness naturally flow.
 However, in some cases, happiness is generally regarded as the emotional
result of life satisfaction. Happiness can be subjective and temporal while
life satisfaction is more encompassing.
 Life satisfaction can refer to the desire to change one’s life, satisfaction
with the past, satisfaction with the future, and significant other’s views of
one’s life (Diener, et
al., 1999). It is also associated with quality of life.
 How well-being and life satisfaction achieved? Research has cited many
factors that influence how they can be achieved.
 Personal factors such as personality (such as openness to experience and

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 extraversion), cognition, physical health, and vigor have been
associated with well- being and life satisfaction.
 Environmental conditions contribute to individual life satisfaction.
 Socio-economic status, home and social environment, interpersonal
relationships, and education also influence one’s well-being and life
satisfaction.

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  Engaging in forward thinking (enabling forethought and planning) and
becoming community oriented are only some of the things that can be
done to enhance the over- all quality of life. However, well-being and life
satisfaction are highly personal and relative. Similar to personal meanings
attributed to and generated in daily life, how one feels about
himself/herself and the life he/she lives is dependent on how he/she defines
a meaningful life.
 What are the characteristics of people who have a high level of well-
being and life satisfaction? Literature has posited a variety of qualities
associated to such individuals:
 Effective self-perception. Being able to change their attitude about
themselves and engage in self-monitoring to minimize negative
attitudes.
 Realistic self-esteem and self-acceptance. Self-valuation and self-respect.
 Control of behavior. Behavior awareness and regulation.
 True perception of the world. Harboring healthy perceptions of their
environment and place within it.
 Sustaining relationships and affection. Manifesting empathy and
sharing of positive emotions with others.
 Self-direction and productivity. Making sure their goals and behaviors are
aligned to their core values and conscious beliefs of themselves.
 Within the context of spirituality, being cognizant of one’s purpose in life,
accepting limitations and celebrating strengths, enabling love and
concern for others, and engaging in behaviors that embody all these will
lead one to have well-being and life satisfaction.

POST-ASSESSMENT

.
1.
Watch “What is the Point of Spirituality?” from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xum35-
XplNY&list=RDLVxum35- XplNY&index=1

2.
Read: Why We Need to Raise Spiritual Children
Now More Than Ever http://www.overindulgence.org/blog/why-we-
need-to-raise-spirit.html

Answer the following questions;

1. Are you more of a Religious or Spiritual person? How can you say so? Explain in
at least 3 sentences or more.

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2. Mention a story in your life that made you more religious or spiritual. It can be a
story of success or tragedy that happened in your experience. If you are agnostic
or an atheist mention how you came about it.

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 REFERENCES

Macayan, J.V. et.al. (2019). Understanding the Self. C & E Publishing, Inc.,
Quezon City.

Why We Need to Raise Spiritual Children Now More Than

Ever http://www.overindulgence.org/blog/why-we-need-to-
raise-spirit.html

The Soul Purpose Test

https://www.higherawareness.com/soul-purpose-
test.php

“What is the Point of Spirituality?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xum35-XplNY&list=RDLVxum35-XplNY&index=1

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