Longing for higher power and spiritual values

By Daniel Shin

Nothing is certain but death. People increasingly respond to their deepest human needs. We have a natural need to feel connected to the world, to others and religious traditions. Anthropology, philosophy or neuroscience can't simply answer the question of whether a higher power really exists. We tend to look for patterns, structures and causes for everything. But there is no single right answer for our divine purposes and our hopes for a higher power.

Religious belief has deeply influenced human society. Many people could claim that they have grown out of religion with their accumulated assets, knowledge and social influence. But, even today there are a lot of people who are not generally content with their lives. People do not appreciate the purpose of their limited lifespans on earth. They hardly find profound connections between their lives and other societal endeavors.

The power of religion helps us to shape our vision of the world and actions toward each other. Hence, there is an urgent need for a more sophisticated understanding of religion beyond any discipline. The world we live in is facing a stream of shocking events. In times of such uncertainty and crises, more people will look to religions or philosophical wisdom for guidance and consolation.

But, in reality, fewer people regularly attend religious services. In Korea, theology and philosophy are some of the least popular subjects in higher education. Many people claim that religion has no longer significance in their lives. Our faith is in flux. Many people leave their childhood family tradition in faith before the age of 24 and oftentimes, they change it more than once. It is a public myth to say that people do not like change. People don't resist change. But, in reality, they just resist being changed.

Failure is inevitable if we are committed to growing. Before any workout or run, it is important to do a few rounds of body stretches to increase the flexibility of our muscles so they don't cramp. When we try to practice stretches for resilience capability, we become more adaptable to changes and can spring back from any failures.

We all tend to fear failure. That is probably why we often stop trying. We are more likely to grow faster toward success if we learn from each other based on our failures, not only our successes. A willingness to be vulnerable and share our experiences of failure with others, therefore, is such a critical part of being more resilient in any circumstances. This effort could start with self-awareness and a search for authenticity. But, most importantly, being a part of a community can make us feel as if we are a part of something greater than ourselves.

It is not always easy to be 100-percent transparent on our own, especially in the world where others seem to have a much better life, at least on their Instagram or Facebook accounts. We all like to put our best selves forward and hide our weaknesses. That is human nature. Although, there is incredible power when we are true to ourselves and share our authentic stories about how we have gained our strengths in the face of failure.

Having a sense of community unites us. When we share our vulnerable but genuine selves with others, people in the community can see a part of themselves through the lens of our journeys. Then, together, we can move forward, gain confidence and do something great for the betterment of society.

Creating positive influence is a full-time job. We can't always control what might happen to us, but we can certainly control how we respond to it. We should learn how to respond positively to failures and hardships. We should choose to do so. It is important to know that increasing our ability to bounce back from failures is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong journey.

Modern societies are built on public institutions. Institutions are designed to address societal challenges in some form. But these institutions are under severe pressure regardless of religious affiliations, social affinities or intellectual origins. Trust and legitimacy are among the most important issues on the societal and political agenda of public institutions. For example, institutions based on hierarchy and control (ex. military, bureaucracy and the state) often provide the greatest facilitation of evil.

Learning through religious and moral education will enable us to recognize religion as an important expression of human nature. It is important to learn about and learn from the beliefs, values, practices and other religious traditions. Spiritual practice could strengthen our perspective for a better future. We always encounter challenges in our life, but we can still stay hopeful during crises and persevere. Spiritual growth is, therefore, our enhanced ability to deal with life and bounce back from any difficulties.

The primary purpose of religious leadership in public institutions is therefore to ensure spiritual success through process, material and training improvement for each individual member. It is not about building humongous new temples or legacies. It will be only accomplished through collaboration among different individuals such as teachers, parents, community leaders and so forth.

Healthy spiritual life gives a sense of peace, wholesomeness and balance among the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of human beings. The path to spiritual excellence will be full of struggles and suffering. It often includes experiences that are frightening and painful. Compassion involves feeling moved by others' suffering. With compassion, you can feel warmth and build desire to help others.

Spiritual values should be a part of education. Children will learn better when they know the purpose of their lives and spirituality. That said, it will grow our minds, bodies and souls and will eventually form our characters. The purpose of spiritual education is, therefore, to fulfill the divine potential of human beings. It prepares them for struggles and suffering by giving them the tools they need to keep on learning throughout the many tough circumstances that will come to them. When we speak of spirituality, please forget about large institutional properties or complex procedures to make you feel religious. We don't need those.

It is strongly recommended that education in values and spirituality is at the core of what we are supposed to teach with the goal of enriching the human personality. Voluntary simplicity for a spiritual life saves a lot of overhead costs. At the end of the day, it will protect people or institutions from the temptation to add to resources through sometimes unfair or dishonest means.

Daniel Shin is a venture capitalist and senior luxury fashion executive, overseeing corporate development at MCM, a German luxury brand. He also teaches at Korea University.