Contemplation and Spirituality

Two emotions are considered in this chapter, namely, awe and enthrallment, they being the two prominent emotional outcomes of contemplation and spirituality. For the purposes of this chapter, contemplation and reflection are treated of as synonyms; both terms refer to the act of thinking about something. Such thinking or concentration, may be highly focused or more general as in getting into a certain mood. Informal observations suggest that contemplation comes in at least four types. Three of these types refer to serious reflection, with the fourth type referring to a kind of casual leisure. Spirituality is, at least initially, a mental state, specifically one of profound regard for the spiritual, for the nonmaterial. Subsequently, however, the search for spirituality may evolve into a way of life. Heintzman argues that spiritual wellness may be thought of as a benefit of leisure.