We’ve all heard of IQ and EQ. But there is also a measure of our spiritual capabilities. Here are 12 signs that you have high spiritual intelligence.
This type of intelligence doesn’t necessarily relate to our religious beliefs. It is more concerned with our inner peace, balance and our understanding of the world.
To be spiritually intelligent does not always mean believing in things like angels or the power of crystals. It is more about understanding that there is more to life than materialism and egotistic needs.
People with high spiritual capabilities tend to think deeply, be aware of the interconnectedness of all things, are compassionate and empathetic towards others and also to animals, plants and mother earth.
Why we sometimes lose our spiritual path
Spiritual intelligence is something we are all born with. However, our rational worldview often teaches this innate ability out of us. We are taught only to believe what we can see or those things that can be scientifically measured. However, humans have always understood that there is more to this world than meets the eye.
Those who are highly spiritually intelligent retain this connection with something deeper. They are less likely to make decisions based only on what their ego suggests. They are connected more deeply to a higher part of themselves.
Danah Zohar is a management thought leader, physicist, philosopher and author. She has defined 12 principles underlying spiritual intelligence. These principles offer us clear guidance as to whether we are living from our higher self rather than just our ego.
Acting from these principles can help us lead richer, fuller lives and make an impact in our world. Using these principles helps us to create collaborative relationships rather than always being in competition with one another.
Zohar’s principles of spiritual intelligence are:
1. Self-awareness
Knowing what I believe in and value, and what deeply motivates me.
2. Spontaneity
Living in and being responsive to the moment.
3. Being vision- and value-led
Acting from principles and deep beliefs, and living accordingly.
4. Holism
Seeing larger patterns, relationships, and connections; having a sense of belonging.
5. Compassion
Having the quality of “feeling-with” and deep empathy.
6. Celebration of diversity
Valuing other people for their differences, not despite them.
7. Field independence
Standing against the crowd and having one’s own convictions.
8. Humility
Having the sense of being a player in a larger drama, of one’s true place in the world.
9. Tendency to ask fundamental “Why?” questions
Needing to understand things and get to the bottom of them.
10. Ability to reframe
Standing back from a situation or problem and seeing the bigger picture or wider context.
11. Positive use of adversity
Learning and growing from mistakes, setbacks, and suffering.
12. Sense of vocation
Feeling called upon to serve, to give something back.
These spiritual principles can help us to measure our spiritual intelligence. The more of these principles we are guided by, the higher our spiritual development. But they can also guide our spiritual growth. We can consciously seek to discover our higher values and live from them. We can also cultivate our empathy and compassion for others.
Spending time meditating, journaling or undertaking any activity that helps us connect with our higher self can help with this. It is also important to question our own values and make sure we are living in alignment with our higher self.
We can foster our spiritual development by being careful about what we expose ourselves to. Spending time with competitive, ego-driven people can block our attempts to develop spirituality. Also, focusing too much on material things can disrupt our progress.
We should also be careful to question the news we hear and the opinions of others, especially when they are full of negativity or hate. Keeping ourselves distant from these negative influences can really boost our spiritual growth in amazing ways.
How to develop our spiritual intelligence
Ultimately, developing our spirituality means moving from ego-driven behaviors to more spiritual behaviors. When we rise above the nagging voice of the ego, we can hear our higher self and be guided by this voice instead.
This helps the world by fostering peace, acceptance, and understanding. It also helps our relationships and our own sense of inner peace. We can let go of many stresses of the modern world easily when we see they are all about ego and competition. This leaves us free to accept ourselves and others, rather than being driven by the need to have more and be more.
We do not need to destroy the ego. It is essential to help us act in the world. It’s just that the ego has become so dominant in current society and the quieter, less drama focused higher self, has lost out.
When making any decision it can help to ask what is in the best interests of ourselves, but also that of our friends family, colleagues, neighbors. It is also advisable to check that whatever decisions we make are in the best interests of the planet on which we all rely as well.
What behaviors do you believe demonstrate high spiritual intelligence? Please share your thought with us in the comments.
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i want to make imagining skill get better .as i grow up my imagination gotten worst and weaker. when i was young kid i was able to create new human faces when i had to sleep early but i couldn’t so i spent hours only imagining/day dreaming about romantic story. now i can’t create new faces .i can imagine and daydream short stories and i have to borrow some of the actresses or famous persons. i believe i can make contact to my inner conscious and know things better lead by intuition and discover my passion by observing my child vision to world and everything else
If only a fair portion of mankind and especially politicians/leaders of this world, could grasp/accept and truly understand what you’re saying here, this world/planet/life we’re living, would transform into what it’s supposed to be, what we all deep down inside and maybe even unknowingly desire it to be, PARADISE. The biggest obstacle is indeed as you rightly said, EGO, which as far as I’m concerned, is nothing short of an animalistic quality. And here I thought we had surpassed that stage?!
This is the ONLY truth, which unfortunately most people nowadays choose to ignore, for various reasons, but it is a truth which everyone will eventually be forced to face. If only we could replace this EGO with LOVE!!!!
What you’ve written here, identified 110% with my inner self and the truth it’s always known. How I wish the world would come to this realization. Instead of fighting, competing, wasting and destroying all that is beautiful around us, wouldn’t it be better for us to reach this understanding and unite, accept this truth, enjoy this paradise and create loving, peaceful solutions and conditions that will ensure an endless beautiful future for our children and generations to come. Why can’t we focus on the POSITIVE, which is ultimately what gives us JOY. Don’t we all feel Warm and Fuzzy inside after doing something selfless for someone or some poor animal/plant/tree/the planet, when we are then recognized for it or simply see our initiative develop into something GREAT – POSITIVE – BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
I am primarily led by my enteric nervous system where I have fascinating gut reactions. It is extremely expansive and I’ve had to learn how to label them. Let me know if you have any questions about it.
I met my guru shirdi sai baba in a very miraculous way in 2006 , at that time I was suffering from anxiety attacks. Till then my life and my thoughts have taken a U turn and he made me to realize the world in a very positive way. In short I found GOD. I found everything.
Hey Jen, I hope you’ll see my comment. I’m having the same gut reactions led by my enteric nervous system, it’s really intense. I got used to it, and I actually enjoy the peace it gives me, but I’d be happy to listen to a wise person’s point of view on it.
Otherwise, what I just read on this blog gives me hope. Sometimes I feel like I’m crazy, but seeing that other people (you guys) live up to the same values, while cultivating a higher consciousness and sustaining a connecting with the universe, really really gives me hope in humanity.
Who ever you are, always be noble.
Cats. My cat helps keep me from going insane. He sleeps next to me, keeps me warm, and I wake up feeling loved. He’s my bestest friend in the whole wide world.
Nice article, simple, comprehensive, but belies the conceptual complexity of spirituality. That complexity is a product of the selfishness we acquire from the minute we are born. The best tool i have found to reverse the flow (ghostbusters talk) is good meditation practices (zen meditation for one). Spirituality is selflessness.