The Self and Spirituality: Overcoming Narrative Loss in Aging

Abstract

As humans we make sense of our Selves and our world through narrativization, a process which concerns matters of purpose, truth, and values. This is at one and the same time a spiritual activity as both spirituality and narrative involve a sense of openness and indeterminacy, and the generation of meaning and purpose. As we age, however, physical, mental, and social changes may disrupt how we narrativize our lives resulting in “narrative loss.” With reference to mental health, we explore such narrative losses and some possible ways of countering these, drawing on practices in spiritual direction and narrative theory.

KEYWORDS:

• self
• spirituality
• narrative
• identity
• aging
• mental health