Chapter 12 deals with Death and Spirituality. In life, our spirit carries us from birth to death. Regardless of all the genetic developments within our bodies, our spirit provides purpose and meaning in our lives. In this chapter, it is argued that our spirituality is in relation with religion. In addition, our spirit does not develop with age. Although there is some truth to these two facts, our spirituality is developed by what is learned throughout the course of life. And spirituality will define our soul which will leave a legacy on earth after we're gone.
Religion involves a practice of beliefs based on culture, ethnicity and heritage. Every religion represents several aspects of spirituality and each aspect represents your purpose in life. Psychologist Viktor Frankl provided three stages of spirituality, which are the somatic dimension (physical), the psychological dimension (personality) and the noetic dimension (roots). These stages, as noted in Chapter 12 of LifeSmart, result from the influences that are learned and the ability to reinvent ourselves when change is needed in our lives (LifeSmart, 293). I've always had faults and those faults caught up with me after losing my marriage. However, it was for my own good because I've learned to reinvent myself and understand things more clearly than I have before. One example is that I'm listening more to my children and others. At the same time, I take into account other people's feelings and work towards a solution that can benefit that person along with myself. As a young boy, I was always reserved and calm most of the time. Being calm is an example of having an influence like my mom who knew how to be calm and that influence is developed in my spirituality. Parenting, teaching or mentoring is the greatest religion to have in order to understand your purpose in life.
Again, our spirituality will define our soul which will leave a legacy on earth after we're gone. Something as simple as calmness goes a long way for me because as an African-American male, we are looked at as violent, lazy and undisciplined in today's society. However, what is displayed on TV and the internet cannot be used as a way to judge others. Learn an individual first and you will truly know someone's spirit.
In one of my other classes I had Professor call me on the carpet for using the term "meathead". He asked "why do you always blanket all of your comments with the fact that you are from the 'meathead' world?" I said because as a rule of thumb similar to being a black male as you pointed out, being a former college athlete and now a football coach people think I'm a hot head or something of the sort. I work very hard to break that stereotype. Thats not who I am, thats not who I am in my soul. Loved that you point out the stereotype of a black male and you're working to fight against it!
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