• Home
  • Blog Posts
    • Mental Health
    • Relationships
    • Spirituality
  • Short Stories
  • About
  • Contact

Poets Prose

Expand your awareness

  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Spirituality

July 9, 2024

What Are Your Spiritual Beliefs & How to Find Them!

Have you ever asked yourself, what are your spiritual beliefs? Well, you might just find asking is the first step to discovering your answer.

what are your spiritual beliefs

With so many different religions and spiritual modalities, it can be hard to know where you stand. Spirituality is so personal, that you may find you don’t fit perfectly into any specific belief system, and that’s perfectly okay! However, learning about religion and other types of spiritualism can help you discover what you believe.

So, what are your spiritual beliefs?

Well, to find out we’re going to cover, spirituality vs religion, spiritual beliefs and practices, examples of spirituality, the belief in a higher power but not religion, what are the beliefs of a spiritual person, and what are your personal beliefs.

 

Spirituality vs Religion

The first step to discovering your beliefs is knowing if you’re more spiritual or religious. Chances are you have an idea of this already. If you currently practice a religion, attend a religious service, read a religious text, or find yourself drawn to religion, you’re beliefs are likely religious.

 

Religion

Religion is about following the path that’s been laid out before you. It’s outlined in religious texts and taught by preachers. It’s often reliant on following a predetermined set of rules and beliefs. Usually, it includes prayer, a belief in a higher power and an afterlife.

 

Spirituality

Spirituality, on the other hand, is less predetermined. It can look just about however you’d like and may include a belief in a higher power, but it doesn’t have to. Spirituality is anything that gives your life purpose or reason. It may be your job, or helping others.

Keep in mind, that religion can in and of itself be considered spiritual, but not all spirituality is religious.

 

Related: What is Spirituality? How Does It Differ From Religion?

 

Spiritual Beliefs and Practices

 

Spiritual Beliefs

Now that you know what spirituality is, what are some spiritual beliefs and practices? As stated before, some spiritual people may believe in a higher power or powers. This higher power, however, doesn’t have to be “God”. It may be the universe, fate, gods or goddesses. It’s really up to you what you believe.

You may not believe in a higher power at all, but rather that everything happens for a reason, or that your purpose is to serve the less fortunate, and this belief gives your life a deeper purpose, which can be incredibly spiritual.

 

Spiritual Practices

Spirituality doesn’t rely on any practices. There’s nothing you must do to consider yourself spiritual, other than call yourself spiritual. However, there are some practices some spiritual people may choose to partake in such as prayer, meditation, mindfulness practice, yoga, breathwork, or even tarot or astrology.

You don’t have to believe in any of these practices to be spiritual, but some may find it aids in their beliefs and overall well-being.

 

Related: What is Tarot Reading & How Does It Work?

 

Examples of Spirituality

There are many different ways to be spiritual, some examples are:

  • praying, reading a religious text, or attending church
  • meditating, practicing yoga, and breathwork
  • believing in a higher power or afterlife
  • finding purpose in your work or other areas of your life
  • treating others with respect and kindness and seeing oneness within us all

As you can see, there are many different ways to practice spirituality, and you may find yourself in one or many of these examples.

 

The Belief in a Higher Power but Not Religion

What does it mean to believe in a higher power but not religion? The belief in a higher power but not religion can be categorized as spirituality, but truthfully, you can label yourself however you’d like. Some people may not like the label “Spiritual” because of its presumed connotation with religion or the many questions it procures due to its vagueness.

In this case, you may choose a different label or you may decide not to label your beliefs at all. Some people may like the label of Pagan due to it being somewhat of a “non-religion”, while others may adopt certain Buddhist philosophies.

 

What is Paganism & is It Right for You?

Technically speaking, Paganism is any religion that does not worship the God of Abraham. Aka, the God worshipped in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The idea is that, to these groups, pagans are worshiping false Gods.

 

Pagan Beliefs

There’s no specific god that Pagans must worship and some may not believe in a god at all. These are known as Secular Pagans. While on the other hand, some Pagans may worship many gods or goddesses.

Many Pagans emphasize the natural world, such as the cycles of life and death and the divinity found in nature. However, unlike most religions, Paganism doesn’t follow a doctrine. Many Pagans, however, follow the notion, “If it harms none, do what you will”.

You may also choose to follow one of many subgroups or types of Paganism, such as Wicca or NeoPaganism.

 

Related: What it Means to be Wiccan – The Pagan Religion on the Rise

 

What are Buddhist Philosophies?

Buddhism is considered a religion and a philosophy, and some non-religious people adopt its teachings. Many of the main philosophies of Buddhism surround the concept of suffering, impermanence, and no self.

 

Three Universal Truths

Buddhism is defined by these Three Universal Truths:

  • Everything in life is impermanent and always changing
  • Because everything changes, holding onto anything causes suffering
  • There is no permanent self and the self is a collection of characteristics and attitudes that are always changing

 

Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are about how we handle suffering.

  • Human life is full of suffering
  • The cause of this suffering is greed
  • There is an end to suffering
  • The way to end suffering is to follow the Middle Path

 

The Middle Path

Following the Middle Path means living a comfortable life, not of luxury or hardship.

There are eight guides for following the Middle Path, known as the Eightfold Path, some of which are right values and attitude, right speech, right action, and right meditation.

 

 

What are the Beliefs of a Spiritual Person?

To be Spiritual means to believe in something larger than yourself; some greater purpose or meaning. A Spiritual person likely thinks about their beliefs often, they may frequently question their beliefs and search for answers. They find meaning in themes of love, altruism, purpose, compassion, wisdom and truth, life and death.

Spiritualists may believe in concepts such as the ego, a false sense of self that we often feel defines us, seeing their true self as the spirit within. They may also practice yoga, meditation, and the concepts of non-striving and non-judgement.

Non-striving means accepting exactly where you are in the moment and not striving to be further ahead. It is often practiced during mindfulness and meditation.

Non-judgement is accepting everything exactly as it is without wishing to change it.

Many spiritual people may also reject the concept of religion, believing it to be man-made and often causing more harm than good.

 

What are Your Personal Beliefs?

To discover your spiritual beliefs, you first must ask yourself, what are your personal beliefs? What is it you value above all else?

It may be your religion, your job, your creative passions. Or it may be love, community, or fairness.

Find what your values are. You can look up a list online or use these value-sorting cards to determine what values are and aren’t important to you. Try to narrow it down to a top 10 and ultimately a top 5 to discover your core values.

Next, ask yourself, do you believe in God? Or any other higher power? What about an afterlife?

How do your values inform these beliefs? Or vice versa, how do your beliefs inform your values?

Do these beliefs fit a predetermined belief system or are they of your creation?

Are there any belief systems you feel drawn to or want to learn more about? Or are there bits and pieces from different ones you resonate with?

Even if you don’t come to a perfect conclusion today, whatever your answers, these questions will give you a better insight into understanding and building upon your spiritual beliefs.

Remember, it’s also okay if you never find that perfect answer. Life is all about discovery and you may find that your beliefs transition throughout different seasons of your life. It’s perfectly normal to grow and change, and there’s no point in making yourself miserable by holding onto something that no longer fits. As the Buddhist philosophy goes, everything is impermanent and always changing.

 

As you can see, there are so many ways to be spiritual. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula, it’s incredibly unique to each of us and our values. And even if you think you’ve found what works for you today, you may just find, there’s still so much more to discover.

 

By Morgan Peters

 

Sources:

White, Ethan Doyle. “Paganism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 11 June 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/paganism.

“Religions – Paganism: Pagan Beliefs.” BBC, BBC, 2 Oct. 2002, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/beliefs/beliefs.shtml.

Spencer, Maya. What Is Spirituality? A Personal Exploration, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2012, www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/what-is-spirituality-maya-spencer-x.pdf?sfvrsn=f28df052_2.

Tucci, Giuseppe. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 25 June 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism/The-life-of-the-Buddha.

“Buddhism: Basic Beliefs.” URI, www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs. Accessed 8 July 2024.

Posted In: Inner Work, Spirituality

Trackbacks

  1. The 10 Best Spiritual Books You Should Read! - Poet's Prose says:
    July 24, 2024 at 8:46 pm

    […] What Are Your Spiritual Beliefs & How to Find Them! […]

About Me

About Me
Morgan is a writer and poet. In 2020 she began posting her original poems to Instagram featuring long captions delving deeper into her pieces. Poet's Prose acts as an extension to these insightful write-ups, bulding upon themes of relationships, mental health, and spirituality.

Get Social

Featured Posts

law of detachment definition

The Law of Detachment Definition

Polyamory vs Polygamy vs Polyandry

Polyamory vs Polygamy vs Polyandry: What’s the Difference?

what causes selective mutism

What Causes Selective Mutism? Misconceptions & More!

Browse the Blog

  • Home
  • Blog Posts
  • Short Stories
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookie Policy

Search

Connect

The love I deserve exists because I exist.
.
.
I’m tired of hearing men say that women are asking for too much. All I ask is for what I know I can provide; I only desire to be loved the way I love. Why on earth would I settle for less?
Love is a lost art. Love is a lost art.
I recently had someone invite me to “read togeth I recently had someone invite me to “read together” on a first date and, personally, I thought it was off-putting. A first date should be for getting to know each other.

But I was curious about other people’s opinions, so I asked around and responses were varied… and sometimes shaming. Some people did *not* like that I didn’t go on this date.

So, I thought we should talk about the idea of shaming women for saying no, and how common this has become.

Link to Substack in my bio!
A heart can only bleed for so long. A heart can only bleed for so long.
You deserve a love that loves all of you. You deserve a love that loves all of you.
Life is more than conception. . . In my opinion, a Life is more than conception.
.
.
In my opinion, anyone who understands the facts should, without a doubt, be pro-choice. You can’t say you care about life and allow so much suffering to take place. 

Life is so much more than conception. You can’t say you care about life, when that life is confined to embryos, and ignores the lived reality of mothers and children everywhere.
My newest blog post is all about selective mutism My newest blog post is all about selective mutism and anxiety! 

Have you ever wondered how anxiety contributes to selective mutism? This post explores all the ways anxiety contributes to the mutism experienced with SM.

This post discusses different types of mutism, anxiety disorders, the difference between selective mutism and social anxiety, and more!

Check out the link in my bio or go to poetsprose.com to read the post!
Some pain is more than physical. Some wounds take Some pain is more than physical. Some wounds take more than time to heal.
My newest blog post is all about how to fit spirit My newest blog post is all about how to fit spirituality into your everyday life!

Fitting spirituality into your day-to-day life may be easier than you think. Spirituality doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be as simple as spending time in nature, or taking a few mindful breaths.

How you fit spirituality into your daily life depends on what spirituality means to you.

Check out the link in my bio to read the full post!
Media literacy is important, people. . . I wrote t Media literacy is important, people.
.
.
I wrote this a couple months ago, and it’s only become more accurate 😩

Media literacy is important, as is studying history. If we do not learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.

(Also, as I was adding hashtags to my previous post about sex positivity, I noticed that suggested hashtags disappeared the moment I typed the word “sex,” so yay for sensor-ship 🙄)
Decided to test out my satirical writing skills wi Decided to test out my satirical writing skills with this one while exploring the much misunderstood concept of sex positivity.

If you’re a woman on dating apps, I’m sure you’ve seen men boasting about being “sex-positive” on their profiles. And if you’re anything like me, you roll your eyes and swipe left immediately. 

It’s not that being sex-positive is a bad thing — it’s actually great. However, the type of men who display this on their profile, likely have little understanding of what it actually means. It’s simply an attempt at pandering to women while announcing their desire for casual sex.

Check out the post at the link in my bio!
Love is more than commitment. . . Love doesn’t r Love is more than commitment.
.
.
Love doesn’t require a label to be true. We spend so much time focusing on where a relationship is going that we forget to be present — to see the relationship for what it truly is.

Love is so much more vast than romance proclaims. If love requires forever, I don’t know if I know love at all.
I often hear the term “trauma bonding” used to I often hear the term “trauma bonding” used to mean bonding over shared trauma, however, that’s not what the term means. Trauma bonding is the emotional bond experienced by the victim in an abusive relationship. It’s the reason why they stay.

It’s incredibly important we use this term correctly as its misuse can perpetrate systems of abuse (such as asking why victims don’t “just leave”) and trivialize the experience of victims.

Check out the post to learn more about trauma bonding. Link in bio.

DV Resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

Love Is Respect (offers resources for those between 13 and 26 years old): Call 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522
Our worth lies in so much more. . . So much of wom Our worth lies in so much more.
.
.
So much of women’s worth is placed on getting married and having children, so women often end up settling. Sometimes they feel they don’t have the time to wait for the “perfect” man, so they accept what they have only to end up disappointed.

They place more importance on societal expectations than their true desires and then feel like they fail when things don’t live up to expectations. However, there is no one-size-fits-all mould for how to live a fulfilling life.

For some, it could be marrying young and having a family. For others, staying single and focusing on their career. Or even, meeting your soulmate later in life but never marrying or having kids. Or, in the case of this poem, divorcing, taking on the challenges of being a single mother, and getting back into your dream career.

The key to living a fulfilling life is to do what feels right for you, not simply what society expects.
Does free will exist? Or are we just products of o Does free will exist? Or are we just products of our environment?
.
.
I recently took a philosophy course, and one of the main lessons that stood out to me was whether or not we have free will. I actually think the arguments that we don’t were far more compelling.

Our choices are dictated by society, how we were raised, and the past choices we made. Seldom, if ever are our choices completely random, and if they were random they would lose all purpose and meaning.

But if our choices are already determined, does this give us a moral obligation over them? Do we hold responsibility for these predetermined actions?

This is where I believe an element of free will comes into play. I do believe most of our choices are predetermined, and that many people never question this. They never stop and ask themselves, “What if there was another way?” They don’t question societal norms, the way they think, and what they believe. They just take these at face value; they live on autopilot, all their decisions already decided for them.

But what if you stopped and questioned your conditioning? Questioned the way you were raised and all that you’ve been taught. If you broke the causal chain, could you then make different choices?
My newest Substack post is up!! I recently watched My newest Substack post is up!! I recently watched Joker: Folie à Deux and had *many* thoughts. 

This post explores the movie’s themes and how they relate to men today. Through issues of class, patriarchy, and toxic masculinity, we cover how men become like Joker and what can be done about it.

The link to my Substack is in my bio!
Deep down, we’re all the same. . . So many of us Deep down, we’re all the same.
.
.
So many of us are afraid to truly be known; we’re afraid of being hurt by those closest to us. So, we put up our defences, we shut people out. But deep down, all we really want is to let people in. We want to be known, as much as it terrifies us, and that risk of being hurt is always worth it. 

If we never let people in, we never really live. Connection is what binds us, and gives true meaning to what it is to be alive.
The fall of America. . . I’m so sorry to all of The fall of America.
.
.
I’m so sorry to all of you who live in the States. I was watching from Canada, hoping for a better outcome. Just know that this fight isn’t over, there’s always work to be done and this election just showed us exactly how much. Love is always the answer. This hatred will only get them so far.
Some crimes never serve time. . . This poem stemme Some crimes never serve time.
.
.
This poem stemmed from the thought that many emotional abusers never face repercussions for their actions. Especially when the abuse takes place outside of marriage. With no legal bounds in place, people can get away with a lot. Physical abuse is easier to prove, but emotional abuse is simply your word against theirs. 

There aren’t any laws in place that protect people from this type of abuse. It allows monsters to walk among us, and as long as they do no physical harm, there’s nothing we can do to stop them.
Don’t challenge tradition. It’s tradition. . . Don’t challenge tradition. It’s tradition.
.
.
Just read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and I apologize if I just spoiled it for you, but seeing as it was published in the 40s, I figured it was fair game.

I’ve personally never understood the importance of holding onto traditional values. As a society we evolve, and in my mind, that can only be a good thing. We learn and we grow and our values and practices shift to reflect that. What do we gain from holding onto strict gender norms? Women who don’t receive equal rights? Men who suppress their emotions?

It’s perfectly okay to acknowledge that these traditions don’t serve us anymore. Doing things, because “it’s just the way it’s always been,” is not a good enough reason.

Copyright © 2025 Poets Prose · Theme by 17th Avenue