In a previous post I stated spirituality has to do with our sense of ultimate meaning, as does religion. But what is “ultimate meaning”? This post will be the first in a series in which I will respond to this question.
I have been hinting at my response all along in this blog. First I told a story about Truth. Then I wrote not one, but two philosophical posts about Truth. In each, I argued spirituality, religion, and Truth are all closely connected.
Here I’m going to be more concrete: spirituality and Truth concern our notions of “the good”.
All of us have understandings of what “the good” is in life. For some it can mean having a good car, a good home, many possessions, wealth, etc.
For others it can mean having healthy, fulfilling relationships, a good family, a healthy society, etc.
Our specific notions of the good are inconsequetial. What matters is that all of us have some idea of what the good is.
We also all have some ideas of what parts of the good we would like to have or embody.
“Our notions of the good encompass our goals and aims in life.”
Our notions of the good therefore encompass our goals and aims in life. They express our deepest desires, our closely guarded hopes and dreams.
Our notions of the good often come to us from our culture, our language, and our place in society. But at some point, every person decides what specific “goods” they will pursue in life.
When a notion of the good connects with us at the core of our being, it begins to touch on that question of ultimate meaning.
“The good gives us a sense of what our meaning in life is.”
It gives us a sense of what our meaning in life is. It helps us to know who we are, and who we will become. It answers the question of why we get up in the morning. It shows us what we will devote our lives to.
Here are five questions to help you reflect on your own understanding of the good:
- What are some things that really matter to you in life? Why do they matter to you?
- Where did you learn these things really mattered to you? Who taught you about why they mattered?
- How do these important things change how you live? What difference do they make for you on a daily basis?
- What are your hopes and dreams regarding these things? How do you want to pursue them?
- What kind of person do you want to be because of these things? How do you see yourself getting there?
Getting in touch with our sense of the good is the beginning of getting in touch with our spirituality. Because all people are spiritual, attending to these topics is also a step in building good spiritual health.
Celebrate the good in your life. Express gratitude for how you have seen the good become manifest. Hold on to your hopes for how you want to see further good. Enjoy the blessings you’ve received while still dreaming for tomorrow.
Most of all, don’t give up on the good; the good won’t give up on you. The good won’t give up on you . . .
References
Lasair, S. (2018). Spiritual care as a secular profession: Politics, theory, and practice. Journal for the Study of Spirituality 8 (1): 5-18. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/20440243.2018.1431022
Lasair, S. (2019). A Narrative Approach Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Health Care. Journal of Religion and Health [Online First]. https://rdcu.be/bSZY3
Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the self: The making of modern identity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions offered on this site are not substitutes for consultation with qualified mental or spiritual health professionals. The perspectives offered here are those of the author, not of those professionals with whom readers might have relationships as clients or patients. In crisis situations, readers are encouraged to contact these professionals for appropriate support and treatment if needed.
Reflective Life 
Amazing insight. All our “ideas” of goodness , as you call it, are purely notional. The moment we stop attaching with notions of good and evil, we may become capable of truly “seeing”
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Thanks for this, spiritmeaning. I wonder how you respond to a distinction between relative good and absolute good. There are many relative goods that people see in front of them–the next device, hooking up with someone during a night out, the good house, the good car, the good job, etc. In some ways all these are good, but they are not absoulte good. When we are truly “seeing” we are seeing the absolute good. But there is a further question here–are we to believe in a universe where goodness is written into the very fabric of reality? Many religious and spiritual traditions would say yes. I wonder where you land on this question . . .
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All that we do, is through our senses. Goodness or Evil is a set of actions/characteristics/ opinions or whatever you call it, as we understand from scripture/views/opinions or even from our own limited ways of looking at things. So , if that is true, how can anything be called “Good” or “Evil”? Our perceptions, fundamentally decide the good and evil. Yet there is something called Absolute good, which is discernible through the spirit, which is in alignment with the Absolute or which is that Absolute, which is free of all positions or references. I am sure you must be wondering like “Easier said than done”. No, but there is this “goodness” which cannot be shown or experienced but can be “SEEN” directly. This seeing is free of bias and extremely personal. Although it “may” appear personal it is universal. Only one “SEER” can discuss this with the other “SEER” yet at the root of all this, is only ONE SEER. Bodies are simply expressions of that SEER. Sorry… I am unable to use language that well!! But surely there is a way to get there!!
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I agree, spiritmeaning! This is a very complicated issue, but fundamentally, I believe we are on the same page. Moving into the domain where one can be “seen through” by the “one seer” is the challenge though–hence the need for a reliable spiritual practice, tradition, and teachers. There’s also the distinction between relative reality and absolute reality that is crucial to understanding how to move into greater experience/communion with the absolute. I’m writing a post on this that I hope will be published soon. Stay tuned!
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You said it, perfect. Sure..I agree. I am awaiting your next post. Thanks for writing in
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