Is it time to reclaim our spiritual essence?

I’ve always considered myself agnostic, maybe even an atheist by default. Raised by scientist parents who saw religion as irrational and spirituality as self-indulgent, I was brought up to believe in logic, evidence, and progress. But something has been shifting.

Recently, I listened to a powerful podcast where psychologist and researcher Dr. Lisa Miller spoke with Mel Robbins about the science of spirituality. It wasn’t about dogma or religion—it was about something deeper, more universal. Something we may be hardwired for as human beings.

The Science of Spirituality

Dr. Lisa Miller, a clinical psychologist and professor at Columbia University, has spent decades studying the intersection of mental health and spirituality. In her book The Awakened Brain, she presents compelling evidence that humans are born with an innate capacity for spiritual connection—what she calls our “natural spiritual brain.”

Her research shows that individuals who identify as spiritual—regardless of religious affiliation—have significantly lower rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In a groundbreaking study published in JAMA Psychiatry (2012), Miller and her team found that people at high familial risk of depression who had a strong personal spirituality were 80% less likely to develop major depression than those who didn’t.

Let that sink in: not prayer, not worship, not church attendance—but a sense of connection to something greater, whether that’s nature, love, or meaning itself.

Young People Are Turning Towards Spirituality

It turns out I’m not alone in this spiritual curiosity. An article I read recently in an in-flight magazine cited the rise of spirituality among young people—especially Gen Z. Church attendance is even growing again in London, a city where secularism has long reigned.

This mirrors wider trends: A 2021 Springtide Research Institute study found that while many young people are disaffiliating from organized religion, 60% of them still identify as “spiritual.” They crave meaning, connection, and ritual—but outside traditional religious frameworks.

Could this be a response to a world that feels increasingly unstable, superficial, and devoid of deeper purpose?

A Crisis of Meaning

Rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide have soared over the past two decades, particularly among young adults. The World Health Organization calls depression the leading cause of disability worldwide. And in many cases, modern medicine alone isn’t enough.

We’re also seeing a collective loss of faith in politics and public life. A 2023 Pew Research Centre report found that trust in democratic institutions and politicians continues to decline, especially among younger generations. When political leadership no longer reflects our core values—such as empathy, justice, and sustainability—it’s no wonder we feel disengaged.

As Dr. Miller puts it, spirituality is not a belief system—it’s a way of perceiving the world that includes meaning, connectedness, and transcendence. And without it, we can feel hollow and untethered, even if everything looks “fine” on the surface.

So What Is Spirituality?

Spirituality, for me, isn’t about religion. It’s about presence. Wonder. Connection.

I feel most spiritual walking in nature. The trees, the wind, the birdsong—they remind me I’m part of something bigger. I’ve stood in cathedrals and felt peace, awe and a sense of stillness. But I connect most deeply with something greater when I’m outside, surrounded by wild beauty. That’s my church.

Dr. Miller’s research supports this. She defines spirituality as a felt connection to a higher power or deeper reality- something beyond the individual self. This doesn’t have to be “God” in the traditional sense. It might be the universe, nature, or love. The key is that it’s experienced as real and meaningful, not just an idea.

In her work, she’s found that spirituality is most protective and impactful when it includes this sense of connection to a higher presence or guiding force. You don’t have to be religious, but you do have to feel that you’re not alone- that there is something more.

She argues that when we nurture our spiritual core—whatever form it takes—we build resilience, empathy, and mental clarity.

Practical Ways to Reconnect

You don’t need a religious label to explore your spiritual life. Here are a few small, grounding practices that invite deeper connection:

• Take a mindful walk in nature – No phone, no podcast. Just your senses.

• Create a daily ritual – Making tea slowly, lighting a candle, journaling for five minutes.

• Practice gratitude – Before bed, name three things that brought joy or meaning today.

• Notice beauty – Look for moments of awe in the everyday: sunlight on a leaf, the sound of laughter, a kind word.

• Engage in deep conversation – Talk about your values, your dreams, your questions—not just your to-do list.

You don’t have to believe in a higher power to believe in something more. You can be rational and spiritual. Scientific and soulful. Grounded and searching.

Maybe that’s the next step in our evolution—reclaiming our innate spirituality.

Sources:

• Miller, L. (2021). The Awakened Brain. Random House.

• Miller, L. et al. (2012). “Religious and Spiritual Importance Moderates the Heritability of Depression.” JAMA Psychiatry.

• Springtide Research Institute. (2021). The State of Religion and Young People.