AGEING AND SPIRITUALITY
Every individual visiting the earth have to return eventually to where they have come. This journey from womb to tomb is commonly conceptualized as life. Different disciplines, man invented, looks at this ‘life’ phenomenon from varied perspectives. From a conventional perspective, man has a quest within themselves to identify the purpose of their life or the journey they undertake during their visit to earth. Of course, life experiences play a vital role in humanizing and reaching to the finest purpose of life. Everyone at some point of their life time have to sit back and take account of the path they have treaded. Even though, this recollection and search can be undertaken by an individual at any phase of their life, …show more content…
Ageing years are marked with increased spiritual inclinations (Pandya, 2016). Scholars ascertain that the normal course of ageing or the passage of sequential time with a predictable end, set up an environment suitable for older adults to be more self-reflexive and self-accepting, and opening the mind or body or spirit to an atmosphere of growth and deeper sense of knowing (Atchley, 2000), (McFadden & Kozberg , 2008). Spiritual dimension co-exist with the nature of being human and every individual has the capacity for spirituality. Spirituality in ageing phase concentrates on finding the core meaning in life, responding to meaning and being in relationship with the infinite. Ageing stimulates contemplative activities and for many these contemplations are translated into the search for life-meaning as they grow older. This strong sense of meaning in life results in better physical and mental health outcomes along with improves quality of life and subjective well-being. Spiritual experiences and expressions can be highly influenced by the search for life meaning especially in the confrontation of realities associated with the end of life. This progression changes the nature of meaning deriving from everyday meaning to larger life meaning (Moberg, 2001), (Mackinlay, 2006.), (Nygren, Alex, Jonsén, & Lundman, 2005). Spirituality helps individuals to pass through painful and joyful events, enabling for positive discoveries amidst negative experiences. From this perspective, spirituality can be viewed as a magnificent resource during ageing providing with an ability to adapt to changing individual needs (Ardelt, Ai, & Eichenberger,
Every individual visiting the earth have to return eventually to where they have come. This journey from womb to tomb is commonly conceptualized as life. Different disciplines, man invented, looks at this ‘life’ phenomenon from varied perspectives. From a conventional perspective, man has a quest within themselves to identify the purpose of their life or the journey they undertake during their visit to earth. Of course, life experiences play a vital role in humanizing and reaching to the finest purpose of life. Everyone at some point of their life time have to sit back and take account of the path they have treaded. Even though, this recollection and search can be undertaken by an individual at any phase of their life, …show more content…
Ageing years are marked with increased spiritual inclinations (Pandya, 2016). Scholars ascertain that the normal course of ageing or the passage of sequential time with a predictable end, set up an environment suitable for older adults to be more self-reflexive and self-accepting, and opening the mind or body or spirit to an atmosphere of growth and deeper sense of knowing (Atchley, 2000), (McFadden & Kozberg , 2008). Spiritual dimension co-exist with the nature of being human and every individual has the capacity for spirituality. Spirituality in ageing phase concentrates on finding the core meaning in life, responding to meaning and being in relationship with the infinite. Ageing stimulates contemplative activities and for many these contemplations are translated into the search for life-meaning as they grow older. This strong sense of meaning in life results in better physical and mental health outcomes along with improves quality of life and subjective well-being. Spiritual experiences and expressions can be highly influenced by the search for life meaning especially in the confrontation of realities associated with the end of life. This progression changes the nature of meaning deriving from everyday meaning to larger life meaning (Moberg, 2001), (Mackinlay, 2006.), (Nygren, Alex, Jonsén, & Lundman, 2005). Spirituality helps individuals to pass through painful and joyful events, enabling for positive discoveries amidst negative experiences. From this perspective, spirituality can be viewed as a magnificent resource during ageing providing with an ability to adapt to changing individual needs (Ardelt, Ai, & Eichenberger,