How Being Spiritually Fluid Impacts My Mental Health

[mvillarreal]

I would like to share this because I think my identity is one that not many are aware of and that has impacted my mental health in different ways, both positive and "negative" (although I prefer to say "challenging" because I don't really see it as completely "bad" per se). Spiritual fluidity is an identity that is definitely not monolithic. In some cases (not like mine), it includes those who belong to two or more religions at once (a Buddhist Muslim, for example). For others (like myself), it includes having insights from a variety of religious traditions and incorporating various sacred texts into one's own spiritual practice without identifying with any tradition in particular. For others, the identity can be even more complex at times. Being spiritually fluid comes with its benefits. For instance, I can be in a liminal space that allows me to look at religion critically without losing appreciation for it and to also look at secular beliefs (like Humanism and atheism) with a similar lens. It also allows me to appreciate diversity and learn from a variety of beliefs while simultaneously learning to draw a line between engagement and cooperation vs. appropriation. On the other hand, I am often in a state of ambiguity that makes it hard to explain myself to others and also struggle hard with deep spiritual questions because of all the ambiguities of different voices, including the various ways that sacred texts can contradict each other while all describing similar mystical states. When it comes to religious communities, I feel everywhere and nowhere simultaneously, and both the intellectual/spiritual ambiguity and lack of understanding from others can sometimes contribute to my anxiety and depression. Just thought I'd share, as I recently read a book that allowed me to articulate my experiences better (It's called "When One Religion Isn't Enough" and it's a great read!).

[JAYnLA]

Very interesting. Myself, I have a core spiritual knowing that has rarely identified without qualification with an existing ideology. I do find strength and hope in the writings of Ernest Holmes and Pema Chodron and Richard Rohr... and these people are very different from one another. For me, I find the patchwork is necessary - but yes, it does lack the sense of 'community' that one might find in a single religious practice.

[hypercat54]

Wow what an incredible post and very well put! I do something of the same myself and take the best bits from different religions and try and incorporate them into my life. I too don't buy into any particular religion either. x