The Language of Values: How Spirituality Shows Up in Everyday Decisions

By Dr. Katie Eastman & Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Spirituality may sound lofty, but most of us practice it every day without realizing it. Every time you make a choice rooted in your values—whether it’s kindness, honesty, compassion, or fairness—you’re living spiritually. Spirituality isn’t only about belief; it’s about how your deepest values guide the way you move through the world.

Think about the decisions you make daily. Do you slow down to let someone merge into traffic? Do you speak up when a friend needs support? Do you choose integrity even when it would be easier not to? These small choices are not random. They come from a place inside you that says, This is who I am, and this is what matters to me. That is spirituality in action.

For many people, religion provides a framework for values. Traditions and teachings offer structure, community, and moral guidance. But values themselves are not limited to religion. They belong to humanity. You can live them whether or not you follow a particular faith. In fact, one of the most spiritual practices you can cultivate is to pause and ask: Does this choice align with my values?

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross often reminded us that the end of life clarifies what truly matters. In those moments, values rise to the surface—love, forgiveness, connection, peace. You don’t need to wait until the end of life to recognize that truth. Living spiritually means letting your values speak through your everyday decisions now.

In The Peace Guidebook, we shared practices for cultivating harmony by aligning daily actions with core values. Choosing peace, for example, isn’t always about avoiding conflict. Sometimes it means having the courage to speak with honesty and compassion, even when it’s difficult. When you choose to let your values lead, you create ripples of peace not just for yourself, but for those around you.

Spirituality is less about the labels you claim and more about the life you live. Your values are the language of your spirit. And when you let them guide your choices, spirituality moves from abstract to tangible, from “woo woo” to real.

✨ Reflection Prompt: What values matter most to you? How do they show up in the small decisions you make every day?