Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Psychology and Spirituality Part 7
November 14, 2024
Over the centuries, humankind slowly separated psychology and spirituality. Prehistoric tribes closely identified with nature, and their shamans were the true leaders. They were spiritual discerners, soothsayers, counselors, and doctors. In early cultures, reality was never interpreted through any other lens than the spirit. But as cultures developed, the shamans and high priests were still the ostensible leaders. Even kings and queens relied on the spiritual realm and governed by the sanction of “divine right.”
Psychology and Spirituality Part 6
November 13, 2024
Everyone seems to have a favorite actor or two. We enjoy them in whatever roles they might play. Most play a wide range of characters. For example, Jack Nicholson may play the love interest in one movie and the next, the villain: "Here's Johnny." Julia Roberts may play the love interest or a determined hero like Erin Brockovich. Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep also play a wide range of characters. Many of us feel we know our favorite actors as people, even if we have never seen them outside their roles. We are drawn to them, but what makes them our favorites?
Psychology and Spirituality Part 5
November 12, 2024
Sometimes, we exclaim, “If only I had known what was coming!” But if we did know what is around the corner, we might give up on life. We’d likely be overwhelmed with our coming illnesses, losses, pain, and traumas. Though we would be delighted to know our happy events, we could not imagine overcoming our adversities. However, we do not see what’s next, so it is our decisions that radically affect our lives. According to our awareness of reality, the results of our choices teach us about ourselves, others, and the universe. Then, our consciousness increases.
Psychology and Spirituality Part 4
November 11, 2024
Spiritual Consciousness profoundly determines the way we think and behave. Our soul sets the tone for our lives. As our deepest self, it knows our purpose and tries to accomplish it. The soul’s still small voice guides us if we listen to it, taking us to the relationships and circumstances that help achieve our purpose. Sometimes, those relationships and circumstances are not pleasant, but they are exactly what we need in order to grow our souls. Barriers to the soul’s expression include the ego’s passion, avoidances, traps, fixations, and an impervious allegiance to its perception of reality. Wars have been fought, and millions have died to defend their perceptions of reality, which may not have been accurate.
Psychology and Spirituality Part 3
November 10, 2024
To enter the academic discipline of Psychology, one does not need to study spirituality or adhere to any spiritual path. I know excellent psychologists and other mental health professionals who are agnostic as well as atheistic and who do not require spirituality to conduct research, teach, or treat patients. The textbooks for psychology are not based on spiritual discernment or spiritual principles but on applications of the scientific method in studying the mind, emotions, and behavior.
Psychology and Spirituality Part 2
November 9, 2024
Suppose we are spiritual beings in a physical body and attribute our existence to a Creator. In that case, our mental functions and emotions are rooted in our primary being, our souls. However, if we are among those who do not perceive a “first intentional cause,” and, therefore, a Divine Spirit behind that intention, we must study the mind, behavior, and emotions strictly from the scientific approach of psychology.
Psychology and Spirituality Part 1
November 8, 2024
As a student in a theology school, I was an oddball because I interpreted the spiritual through the lens of psychology instead of religion. Later in my graduate psychology program, I was also odd because I interpreted psychological phenomena through the lens of spirituality. For some reason, I never saw the split between psychology and spirituality, but many people seemed to see them as entirely different bodies of knowledge. I recall many conversations with people who grappled with the relationship between psychology and spirituality. It seemed they had to choose one over the other. A typical question was, “Do we attribute the miracles in the Bible to the spiritual realm, or to the psychological processes of those who supposedly witnessed these events?” Another question is, “Do we live from our minds or our spirit?”