Spirituality is thought to include a system of beliefs that encompasses love, compassion and respect for life. Spirituality is about our existence, relationships with ourselves, others and the universe. It is something we experience and requires abstract thinking and will. Spiritual development provides us with insight and understanding of ourselves and others. The spiritual component of a personality is the dimension or function that integrates all other aspects of personhood and is often seen as a search for meaning in life.
Spirituality extends beyond the physical, material and self to a state called transcendence.
Observations of older adults have shown increased reflection, less concern for material things and more interest in satisfaction with life. By later in life many older adults may have experiences that may seem mystical. These may be responses to illness or other life changing occurrences. Within the experience of aging and the notion of spirituality there is an expanded sense of time in relation to quality of life. There is emphasis on internal processes or inner experiences which facilitate expanding concsciousnesses.