You have probably heard of the Intelligence Quotient, or IQ, and more recently, on the back of work from psychologists like Daniel Goleman, an expansion of this in to discussions around Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

What you may not know, is that the purpose of the Intelligence Quotient may have been misrepresented (and even exploited) over time, to imply that our level of intelligence (to some extent, how smart we are) is fixed. In fact this idea may not have been intended to be used that way, but more as a benchmark – a starting point – from which people can then improve or identify specific needs that may help them boost their learning. 

In the same way, our Emotional Intelligence isn’t a fixed point either. A person can learn to improve their ability to be aware of, understand and articulate their emotions and recognise and respond well to others. For example, empathy becomes a skill we can cultivate (rather than something we either have or don’t) and display helpfully in someone’s moment of need. 

The concept of Spiritual Intelligence is therefore an exciting one, offering the opportunity for people to learn to connect with something “bigger” than themselves; to embrace their spirituality with a focus on things like meaning, purpose and transcendence. 

This isn’t about religion or even necessarily a religious idea, though as part of someone’s spiritual intelligence they may have aligned themselves with one. Their “something bigger” may be God, but doesn’t have to be; it could be a connection with The Universe, an awareness of energy or even a reverence for nature.

It also allows us to move closer towards an answer to that Big Life Question: “Why am I here?” – a sense of purpose enhances our overall sense of well-being, making spiritual health an important dimension of wellness.

For example, in research conducted with nurses, it was identified that those who had high levels of spiritual intelligence – maybe a sense that nursing was their “calling” (or “reason for being”) – they coped better in their role than those who didn’t have high “SQ”.*

Traditionally, the triquetra of what it means to be human, recognises the mind (mental health), body (physical health) and an awareness of the soul. There is also a connection between all three, one affecting the other. If caught up in negative thinking (mind) a person may lose touch with their soul, while their body speaks their emotional pain. They may also feel like “something is missing.”

What to Consider

According to Robert A. Emmons, there are five components of spiritual intelligence: (a) the capacity for transcendence; (b) the ability to enter into heightened spiritual states of consciousness; (c) the ability to invest everyday activities, events, and relationships with a sense of the sacred; (d) the ability to utilise spiritual resources to solve problems in living; and (e) the capacity to engage in virtuous behavior (eg. to express gratitude, to be humble, to display compassion).

It’s also an awareness of when someone is “spiritual bypassing”, for example only using texts, rituals and practices to ignore their pain (to avoid “shadow work”) or “excuse” their unpleasant behaviour.

These ideas may be interpreted individually and look different in practice, however one way we can connect with our spiritual self on several levels is through our dreams. 

One of the things I talk about in Answers In The Dark is that dreams can be much more than the subconscious rattling of our mind, though certainly in the U.K. and US we may have westernised their purpose that way. 

In fact, while we are asleep and in the quiet of darkness, our dreams may be providing valuable insights and wisdom from the soul.

So when we think about our well-being holistically, it’s important not to forget the relevance of spiritual living. The more we can expand our awareness of the soul and the messages it may whisper gently to us (both awake and asleep), this can be a valuable way to reach our full potential of what it means to be human. 

© Copyright Delphi Ellis 2024 | Policies

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* SQ is also sometimes used to describe social intelligence, another concept discussed by Daniel Goleman. 

Delphi is the author of Answers In The Dark: Grief, Sleep and How Dreams Can Help You Heal, out now on Amazon and Hive.  The Helping You Sparkle™ magazine is part of the Helping You Sparkle™ portfolio.