"The main argument here is that spiritual strength is fundamentally about cultivating wisdom. From a psychological perspective, spirituality isn't about dogma or belief; it is about developing the kind of wisdom necessary to face suffering without denial, accept uncertainty without despair, and discover meaning beyond the ego. Modern cognitive scientists, such as John Vervaeke, describe wisdom in two dimensions: moral (what serves the greater good, the long view) and cognitive (navigating complexity, managing strong emotions, and distinguishing the essential from the trivial)."
"This framework is helpful but does not fully capture the essence of the main argument: that true wisdom involves more than rationality-it encompasses mysterious and unsettling dimensions as well. Giorgio Colli called wisdom "brutal" because it exceeds our grasp. Plato listed four types of divine madness-prophetic, mystical, poetic, erotic-that open us to something greater. Well-being comes not from control alone but from surrender, risk, and letting life surprise us."
"Growth rarely comes from staying comfortable. We often learn more from our mistakes than from our successes. Even the worst decisions can mature us if we allow them to do so. Wisdom requires not only order and harmony, but also a small dose of chaos and risk-what Nietzsche saw in the god Dionysus, who stood beside Apollo's calm rationality. In practice, well-being is found not just in control, but in surrender-allowing ourselves to be surprised and vulnerable."
Spiritual strength equals cultivating wisdom that accepts suffering, tolerates uncertainty, and finds meaning beyond ego. Wisdom includes moral and cognitive dimensions: moral concern for the greater good and cognitive skills to navigate complexity and manage emotions. True wisdom transcends pure rationality and includes mysterious, unsettling, and even painful experiences that promote growth. Rituals, meditation, and artistic practices open awareness beyond ego and foster resilience. Growth often requires risk, surrender, and exposure to chaos as well as order. Well-being emerges from balancing control with vulnerability, allowing mistakes and surprise to mature understanding and deepen purpose.
Read at Psychology Today
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