John 6:63b — “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”
When we hear the word “spiritual,” what usually comes to mind?
For many, it sparks images of invisible forces, ethereal beings, or a mystical dimension beyond our physical world. It sounds like something distant and abstract—something reserved for monks, sages, or people detached from the real world.
But what if being spiritual had less to do with otherworldly experiences and more to do with how you choose to live—how you think, how you react, and how you treat others?
Beyond the Myths: A Grounded Understanding of Spirituality
The word spirit has been used for centuries in ways that are very human and relatable. In older expressions, people would say things like, “That man has a bitter spirit,” or “She has a gentle spirit.” What they really meant was that these people consistently showed certain traits—anger, kindness, peace, jealousy—not just occasionally, but as a way of being.
In this sense, being a spiritual person has little to do with supernatural experiences and everything to do with your inner compass.
A spiritual person is not someone who floats above the ground, disconnected from reality. On the contrary—they are deeply grounded. But instead of being ruled by emotions or impulses, they live by something deeper, steadier, and wiser.
The Difference Between Impulse and Intention
Most people live by reactions. Something happens, and they respond immediately—through anger, fear, frustration, or pleasure. But a spiritual person pauses. They reflect. They choose their response—not based on what they feel in the moment, but based on who they are becoming.
They don’t just “go with the flow.” They don’t speak just because everyone else is speaking. They don’t retaliate just because they’ve been hurt. They are able to delay gratification. They can choose silence in the face of provocation. They can show kindness even when surrounded by hostility.
It’s not weakness. It’s strength of the rarest kind.
Because anyone can react. But it takes intention, maturity, and inner strength to respond with grace, especially when every emotion is begging for the opposite.
Living According to Higher Principles
A spiritual person lives by principles, not pressure. They follow values, not trends.
While others are driven by immediate rewards—money, recognition, revenge, pleasure—a spiritual person is more concerned with meaning, truth, love, and integrity. They may seem “out of step” with the world, but in reality, they are marching to a rhythm that will still matter when everything else fades.
They don’t pour gasoline on emotional fires. They don’t seek to win every argument. They don’t live for applause. They live for peace.
That peace doesn’t come from having an easy life. It comes from having an anchored soul.
The Mind of Christ: A Spiritual Standard
In the Christian perspective, a truly spiritual person is someone who has the “mind of Christ.” That doesn’t mean they’re perfect. It means they aim to see the world the way Christ would see it—to interpret people, decisions, pain, success, and failure through a higher lens.
According to Scripture, the Spirit of Christ produces what the Bible calls “fruits”—qualities like love, patience, self-control, kindness, faithfulness, and perseverance.
These are not just traits to be admired—they are signs of a life that is being transformed from the inside out.
The Harder Path, The Better Life
Let’s be honest. Being spiritual is not the easiest path. It’s far easier to be led by emotions than by principles. It’s easier to blame others, to follow the crowd, to do what feels good right now.
But if you’ve ever taken a step back and responded to life differently—by forgiving when it hurt, by being kind when you were tired, by staying calm when you had every reason to explode—you’ve tasted what it means to be spiritual.
You’ve experienced the beauty of rising above the noise, of living from the inside out.
And once you taste that kind of strength, you don’t want to go back.
A Gentle Invitation to Go Deeper
Maybe this isn’t the most polished definition of spirituality. But perhaps it’s enough to spark something in you.
- Are you driven by impulse or guided by intention?
- Do you react out of habit or respond from principle?
- Are you living from the surface… or from the soul?
Being spiritual doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being aware, being awake, and choosing daily to live from a deeper place.
If this reflection stirred something in you, don’t rush past it. Sit with it. Let it speak. Maybe it’s time to begin your own journey—not toward a mystical ideal, but toward a more honest, grounded, and meaningful life.
