Spirituality is a complex concept that has a unique meaning to each individual. I would define it, in the general sense, as an abstract aspect that recognizes the feelings or beliefs regarding the presence of something more than human that cannot be defined by sensory parameters, either within ourselves or around us. Spirituality is present in all people, in one way or another. It does indicate belief in a religious system or the supernatural, but rather all people have components of the ‘soul’ – their unique selves, influences, practices, and beliefs, a key component of personhood (Yard, 2013). Therefore, spirituality is vital in healthcare as part of holistic care; when illness creates problems in other aspects of personhood, such as physical or emotional well-being, spirituality can serve as a balance to maintain inner peace. That is why many patients utilize spiritual practices, both evident and more personal hidden ones, to attempt to keep an inner balance. This is known as eclectic spirituality, more prevalent in the modern world, where people are choosing not to be limited by narrow views of one religion but the perception that all aspects of the universe are intertwined, so they pursue spiritual practices they believe promote inner peace and harmony (Molloy, 2021).
The Trinity Model is an advanced practice framework that seeks to demonstrate the interconnection between beliefs, suffering, and spirituality. At the intersection of these concepts is the meaning of life and purpose, or the place where they are questioned, affirmed, or challenged. Wright (2008) argues that it is impossible to discuss one of the elements of the ‘trinity’ without bringing up the other two because of how closely they are interconnected. The underlying foundation is to conceptualize the reciprocity of the interaction among beliefs, suffering, and spirituality, and this greatly impacts how the patient and families perceive, react, and manage any given illness. Nurses can soften suffering by understanding spirituality and approaching patients’ from their spiritual perspectives, and attempting to engage in therapeutic, spiritual conversation with them in the attempt to soften the impact. One thing that I learned from this film and looking forward to utilizing in practice is being aware of my own spirituality in order to connect and motivate patients to explore their own. I agree now that spirituality, in whatever form or expression it may take, should be valued and built upon as part of holistic treatment, particularly to reduce suffering and improve outcomes.
References
Yard. L. (2013). Spirituality in healthcare. St. John’s, NL: Doreen Westera.
Molloy, M. (2021). Experiencing the world’s religions. McGraw Hill.
Wright, L. M. (2008). Softening suffering through spiritual care practices: One possibility for healing families. Journal of Family Nursing, 14(4), 394–411. Web.