Based on more than 30 years of psychological counseling and
pastoral care, Howard Clinebell believes that humans have seven spiritual
hungers in common:
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All people need to experience regularly the
healing and empowerment of love - from others, self, and an ultimate
source.
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Everyone needs to experience renewing times of
transcendence - moments that expand us beyond the immediate sensory spheres.
-
Everybody needs vital beliefs that give some
sense of meaning and hope the midst of losses, tragedies, and failures.
-
Every person needs to have values, priorities,
and life commitments - usually centered in issues of justice, integrity, and
love - that guide us in personally and socially responsible living.
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Each human being needs to discover and develop
their inner wisdom, creativity and love of their unique transpersonal/spiritual
self.
-
All people need a deepening awareness of oneness
with other people and with the natural world, the wonderful web of all living
things.
-
Every human being needs spiritual resources to
help heal the painful wounds of grief, guilt, resentment, unforgiveness,
self-rejection, and shame. We also need spiritual resources to deepen our
experiences of trust, self-esteem, hope, joy and love of life.
Clinebell feels that everybody must pay
attention to these needs to feel whole and fulfilled, making spirituality
central to human well-being (Clinebell, 1992).
Readers who feel uncomfortable with the words spiritual or
spirituality can substitute their own words - perhaps words like connection or
love or meaning.
Do you recognize any of these spiritual needs in yourself?
