Spirituality and Flourishing | Seminar

This seminar explores spirituality as a VIA character strength that supports flourishing through meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself. In a university context, spirituality is framed broadly and inclusively, encompassing religious faith as well as non-religious sources of transcendence such as nature, art, service, and deep values. Participants examine how spirituality can strengthen wellbeing and resilience during academic pressure, help students find coherence during challenge, and support compassionate relationships through a sense of interconnectedness. The seminar also distinguishes optimal use of spirituality (grounding, perspective, purposeful living) from underuse (disconnection, meaninglessness, values drift) and overuse (rigidity, dogmatism, imbalance, neglect of responsibilities). Practical reflection prompts and evidence-informed tools, including WOOP, guide students to clarify what matters most and translate values into sustainable daily practices. Learning Outcomes By the end of this seminar, students will be able to: Define spirituality as a VIA character strength and describe how it relates to meaning, purpose, and connection. Identify diverse expressions of spirituality in a university environment (religious and non-religious) with respect for plural perspectives. Explain how spirituality can support wellbeing and resilience during periods of academic stress and uncertainty. Distinguish between optimal use, underuse, and overuse of spirituality, including risks of disconnection and rigidity. Clarify at least one personal value or source of meaning and describe how it can guide decisions and behaviour in daily student life. Create a simple WOOP plan to strengthen spirituality in a balanced way (e.g., reflection practice, service, community, nature-based grounding).