Have you ever felt despite success, you’re still not happy?

Have you felt that, despite achieving some successes in life, you still are not happy? Do you still sense that something is missing? Have you experienced disappointment, loss and failure, and seek a renewed sense of purpose?

Many people, even if they have had some religious training as children and may currently be involved in faith-based groups, feel empty or depressed and lack a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. That missing piece may be spirituality.

Spirituality is not necessarily a religious concept. It is that part of life or existence that is not physical or material. Spirituality is a way of experiencing things without relying on the five senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting).

Spiritual people:

• Understand the world through intuition
• Feel connected to the rest of the universe
• Seek guidance through prayer or meditation or attention to their own emotions
• Are not concerned with being more powerful than other people or winning or achieving the most. They seek to empower themselves and others.
• Feel connected to others and look for ways to experience and honor that connection.
• Know that things are not always logical.
• Value integrity and peace more than recognition and wealth.
• Focus on the positive forces in life and work for good and constructive purposes.

When faced with the possibility of imminent death, most people realize that attending to their spiritual needs is important. If you knew that your life would end soon, what would you do? Who and what would be most important to you? Most people say that they would spend time with loved ones, enjoy the simple things of life and appreciate nature.

Nourishing those things is a way of getting in touch with the spirit. You do not have to become religious to be more spiritual. There is no single “right” way to be spiritual. See what feels right to you and do more of that.

Here are some suggestions:

• Ask yourself daily, “How can I serve others with love?”
• Think about the purpose of your life and ask yourself, “Are my lifestyle and behaviors consistent with my life purpose?”
• Take time for self-reflection, prayer and meditation. Slow down enough to connect deeply with yourself and others.
• Ask yourself daily if your actions are consistent with your values and spiritual beliefs.
• Spend time with others who value spirituality.

Develop your spiritual life now so you will have more time to reap the benefits.

Dr. Judy Ronan Woodburn is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Advocate Medical Group – Behavioral Health in Normal, Ill. She has helped her clients through a variety of issues for more than 20 years.