Spirituality is an intensely personal set of beliefs and activities that we often find difficult to share with another person. It is even more challenging to profess publicly the ways our faith and beliefs could improve the world in which we live.

So, take some time to consider the following questions:

• What is your spiritual history?

Spirituality develops over time as it intertwines with our personal lives. Deeply-rooted emotional needs shade and color our spiritual choices. So, it is important for you to consider your spiritual history and how it will shape our conversations.

— If you are interested in spiritual development, you need to consider how your spiritual beliefs emerged and who has helped you cultivate them in the past. Part of the consideration should also take into account the emotional difficulties (and rewards) you have already experienced in your spiritual life. If a person has had particular impact – either positive or negative – on your spiritual life, then this needs to be part of our preliminary conversation. In much the same way, you should discuss any aspects of your spiritual life that currently are evoking strong emotions or concerns.

— If you are feeling called to make some form of social witness based on your faith, you should consider why you feel this need to be important. This may involve trying to understand why you feel you need to make this public statement and the various emotions — positive and negative — it evokes. Again, do not be afraid to express vulnerability in our preliminary conversation since this will enable you to build a more positive future through our subsequent discussions.

• How has your spirituality changed over time?

While the external aspects of a person’s spiritual life may seem to remain the same since their inception, it is important to recognize that the emotional or spiritual motivation for it often changes over time. So, take some time to consider how your relationship with God has evolved and developed. As part of this consideration, think about the ways in which your spiritual life has fostered positive or negative feelings in you as well as how these emotions are shaping your present perceptions as you approach these conversations.

• What spiritual resources do you need in your life?

Take some time to honestly appraise what you need to fulfill your spiritual desires. Also, take some time to think about the resources you either have or will have to fulfill your desires. This should involve thinking about the ideas or options you have put aside prematurely as well as how particular resources have changed during the course of your life.

• How will you measure your success in life, both material and spiritual?

It is important that you understand how you will measure the success of this goals, even in the spiritual realm. This will help you appreciate the motivations shaping your spirituality as well as help you know the ways to measure your achievements and needs. Again, it is very important that you be completely honest about these matters so that you may remain open to the creative and spiritual gifts that God will offer you during these conversations.

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