Youth is often characterised by confidence and certainty. We are the generation the world has been waiting for, the key to the future!

But as we progress into the second half of life, we often begin to reflect on the bigger questions, like:

• What is life all about?
• Why are we here?
• How should we approach the rest of our life?
• What is important?
• What kind of world should we leave to our children and grandchildren?
• What will our legacy be?

Trying to find meaning in our experiences and our specific place in the universe makes us the spiritual beings we are.

Many different paths
Spiritual stimulus can come from a variety of places, and people express their spirituality in all sorts of ways.

For some, religion has most relevance. It offers 'vertical transcendence', connecting people with a higher power.

'An upside to my life right now is knowing help through prayer.'
John in his 60s

Others may feel a similar connection, but not necessarily through a religion.

More broadly, spirituality can also offer us 'horizontal transcendence'. This is an engagement with our world and its well-being. It can address a sense of purpose, order and wholeness in the universe, motivating us to work for what we care deeply about.

'What matters is not what you own but what you have achieved, what sort of person you are and how you are able to relate to others.'
Frances in her 60s

This idea is often expressed in Eastern philosophies and can be found in yoga, meditation or martial arts.

From the huge to the tiny
An awesome natural scene can also trigger a spiritual moment, perhaps by taking the focus away from our daily struggles. It could be an incredible landscape or simply the changing colour of the seasons.

Important life events might have a similar impact, for example the birth of a child or grandchild, but the small things in life can be spiritual too.

As one over 50, Ian, explains:

'[My most spiritual experiences have been] two different experiences involving ice cream: 1) a friend who was terminally ill with a brain tumour - I asked him what he had eaten for lunch, the answer was five scoops of ice cream; and 2) an orphan in Cape Town who [we gave] his first ice cream.'

'The thing in common was the look of pleasure linked to the ice cream and the lesson to enjoy all experiences to the full as though they were your last or your first. Never just pass through life.'
Ian Walker in his 50s

Shared experience
A certain level of spirituality can be found in the common experience of people who share interests, extreme challenges or adversity together. This includes political demonstrators, football fans, mineworkers, fire-fighters or mountaineers.

Fulfilment and meaning may also be achieved through charity work and giving back to the community. As Albert Einstein said, 'There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the gentlest creed.'

Inspiring the soul
Gandhi used the spiritual dimension of his Indian culture to inspire his campaign of non-violent resistance. Martin Luther King, too, had a spiritual 'dream' of future freedom and equality for black Americans.

As a collective experience, spirituality has often brought purpose to many people's lives, as well as change for the better.

'Respect the flow of life …the positive energy in life … and try to be true to it … put positive things into the world …words, feelings, ideas.'
Mike in his 60s

The fabric of life
In short, spirituality is to be found in many places, often in close proximity to our day-to-day experiences.

Spirituality can help us transcend the daily grind and reflect on our own existence. Whichever form we choose, our personal definition of spirituality makes us the individuals we are, colouring the way we look at the world.

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