Let's Reimagine the Word "Woo-Woo"

By Dr. Katie Eastman

I am not sure who first coined the phrase woo woo, but it has too often been used to dismiss or mock spiritual beliefs and ideas. I would like for us to retire this phrase and replace it with a deeper understanding: spirituality is a necessary aspect of being human.

Think about it: what would happen in the morning if you had no incentive for getting out of bed? For those who are depressed, grieving, or overwhelmed, this is their lived experience — nothing feels worth getting up for. It is only in flexing our spiritual muscles that we find a reason to live. Spirituality gives us meaning and purpose for each day. This is the most human aspect of spirituality.

Spirituality vs. Religion

It’s important to understand the distinction. Some express their spirituality through religion — a structured system of beliefs, rituals, and practices that offer wisdom, guidance, and community. But spirituality itself is broader. It can be expressed in countless ways: by being present in nature, by engaging deeply in community, by spending time with loved ones, or by aligning daily choices with what gives life meaning. Whenever we express our deepest beliefs about what matters, we are living our spirituality. Yes, you too are a spiritual being.

Why the Resistance?

So why do so many people feel insecure, uncomfortable, or dismissive — resorting to words like woo woo to push away this natural, vital part of themselves? One answer is accountability. To embrace our spirituality is to acknowledge that we are vital members of greater humanity. It means recognizing that our choices affect not only ourselves but also others — that we are interconnected, one with everything.

This level of responsibility can feel daunting. It’s easier to see ourselves as separate than to carry the perceived “pressure of oneness.” Yet the truth is that living with collective, unifying beliefs is not harder — it is lighter, freer, and healthier. Decades of research show that those who are compassionate toward themselves and others are more content, happier, and healthier. Prosocial attitudes and compassionate behaviors lead to stronger relationships, greater well-being, and even longer life.

The Science and the Wisdom

Research consistently shows that kindness, volunteering, and compassion are not just “feel-good” gestures — they are essential to human flourishing. Helping others lowers stress, boosts immunity, strengthens resilience, and even extends longevity. In fact, older adults who volunteer regularly live significantly longer.

What modern science is now confirming is what spiritual traditions have always taught. Christianity calls us to love our neighbors. Buddhism teaches karuṇā (compassion) and mettā (loving-kindness). Hinduism and Sikhism emphasize seva — selfless service as a path to liberation. Indigenous wisdom traditions remind us that caring for one another restores balance because we are all connected. These teachings converge on a single truth: compassion is sacred.

Compassion in Action

When we integrate compassion into daily life, it becomes both a healing science and a spiritual practice. It may look like volunteering in our community, listening deeply to a friend, or offering grace to ourselves in hard moments. These small acts ripple outward — strengthening bonds, nurturing peace, and transforming how we experience life. In giving, we receive. In compassion, we live fully aligned with both evidence-based well-being and timeless spiritual wisdom.

Why Do We Call It Woo Woo?

If we are happier when we care about one another — and research and spiritual traditions affirm that we are — then why do we resist it enough to create dismissive language like woo woo? The answer lies in our discomfort with vulnerability. True compassion requires us to soften, to admit we need one another, to lead with the heart and not just the head. In a culture that prizes independence, productivity, and control, vulnerability can feel threatening. So we create labels to protect ourselves from the intimacy and authenticity that compassion demands.

But here’s the paradox: while resisting it, we are also craving it. Our bodies long for connection. Our spirits yearn for belonging. Perhaps what we most resist is not the language itself but the deep transformation compassion requires of us.

The invitation, then, is to reclaim this language with courage. To say: compassion is not woo woo. It is wisdom. It is science. It is spirituality in action. And it is the most practical, powerful, and human path we can walk together.

An Invitation

Here at Best Ever You, we invite you to embrace your spirituality in whatever way is meaningful for you — through religion, nature, relationships, or personal practice. We will be exploring spirituality and oneness with open minds and open hearts, honoring diversity of thought and belief. Join us, and let’s start the conversation together.

About Dr. Katie Eastman

Dr. Katie Eastman is a psychotherapist, master grief and transition coach, and author who helps people discover peace, purpose, and resilience through life’s changes. Mentored by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, she integrates compassion, spirituality, and practical tools to guide individuals and communities in transforming loss into growth. Through her writing and teaching, Katie shares simple daily practices to strengthen our “spiritual muscles” and remind us that every challenge is also an invitation to love more deeply, live more fully, and lead with heart.

Learn more and connect with Katie at DrKatieEastman.com. She welcomes you to reach out for coaching, consulting, or speaking opportunities, and to explore resources for living and leading with compassion and purpose.

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