The Four Connectedness Relationships

We can improve our spiritual health by cultivating Connectedness in the following four types of relationships: self, community, environment, transcendent.

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Self

We experience Connectedness with ourself by:

  • cultivating personal awareness
  • living by our values
  • finding a purpose in life
  • working on our mental and emotional well-being
  • having a healthy relationship with our physical body
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Community

We experience Connectedness with our community by:

  • remembering we are not alone
  • cultivating relationships with other people, like:
    • family and friends
    • groups (religious, sports, musical, etc.)
    • tight-knit neighborhoods
    • the entire human species
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Environment

We experience Connectedness with our environment by:

  • living in harmony with our surroundings
  • remembering we are part of nature
  • treating our homes, cities, and the Earth with dignity
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Transcendent

We experience Connectedness with the transcendent by:

  • acknowledging there is more to life than our physical experiences
  • being open to the power of mystery
  • believing in the abstract, ineffable, and what we can’t see, like:
    • God
    • Love
    • Karma
    • The mind-boggling idea that we are, as Carl Sagan suggests, made of “star stuff” because the atoms in our bodies come from deceased stars

If You Still Want to Learn More

Read about my definition of spirituality. Try the Connectedness Evaluation, read about research-based spiritual health tools, follow Science of Connectedness on Instagram, sign up for email updates, learn about spiritual care services, or send Sarah E. K. Lentz a message.