Spirituality in Work Environment and Mental Satisfaction

Abstract

Spirituality was a topic that was considered inappropriate for social and behavioral research. Many behavioral scientists viewed spirituality as a core concern of philosophers. However, world scenarios and business climate in recent times have stressed the urgent need of discussion and practice of spirituality in every walk of social life.Some people, of course, feel skeptical about whether spirituality can mix with work. Others feel apprehensive that some religious pressure will be put on them at work. Still others feel enthused at the possibility of spirituality at work. word revolution has two meanings. first is the fundamental revolution. other definition is equally important. What does the earth do every 24 hours? It completes one revolution, returning to where it began. second meaning of is to return to where you began.Humanity went through both types of when the astronauts first went to the moon. Revolutionary technologies were manifest. An equally fundamental shift took place in our consciousness. Edgar Mitchell, an American astronaut on the Apollo 14 fight, said, The powerful experience of seeing the Earth and our whole solar system against the background of the cosmos had a very profound effect on me, an overwhelming sense of being connected with the universe, of feeling connected to all things.... We went to the moon as technicians, we returned as humanitarians.Defining spiritualityAlthough most people describe themselves as spiritual, they define the term in many different ways. Experts also vary in their definitions. An internet search reveals more than 500 definitions of spirituality. Some of the oft quoted definitions are given below:* best ofthat which is human* A quest for existential meaning* transcendental human dimensionsHowever, a more concise conceptualization is that of Pargament (1999), who describes spirituality as finding, conserving and transforming the sacred in one's life. There are two key terms in this definition: search and the sacred. term search indicates that spirituality is a process; it involves efforts to discover the sacred. People can take a virtually limitless number of pathways in their attempts to discover and preserve the sacred. Spiritual pathways may range from traditional religious institutions to nontraditional avenues.While religion and spirituality were used interchangeably in the long past, the clarity of distinction between the two has been attained in recent times. Religion represents an institutional, formal, outward, doctrinal and authoritarian system. In contrast, spirituality denotes an individual, subjective, emotional and inward expression.In recent years psychologists have carried out a large numbers of studies to examine the relationship between religious experience and mental health. Findings are perplexing. Some studies indicate a positive association between them, while other show negative relationship. So psychologists have distinguished two forms of religious experiences: external religiosity and internal religiosity. External religiosity is indicted in the form of attending the places of worships, rituals and other outward behaviors. Internal religiosity refers to attitude and values. Accordingly spiritually has been likened to internal religiosity. Spirituality, defined as a search for sacredness, not only highlights the search process; it also involves efforts to hold onto the sacred once it has been discovered. People can take a number of routes to discover and conserve the sacred.What are the roots of this discovery process? Some point to the role of innate genetic basis. Others have pointed out the role of critical life events. challenges people face may reveal human limitation and prompt them to seek out the sacred. In addition, the social context including the family, institution and cultural milieu play important roles in stimulating the discovery process. …