More and more often, I see social media posts from people claiming to introduce spirituality into the workplace. What follows is usually an enthusiastic yet messy argument in which psychology, creativity, personal development, well-being, a hint of meaning, and (existential) philosophy all weave together.

In this postmodern era, where everything is allowed to be what it (he/she/they) thinks it is, the word “spirituality” seems to have been adopted as an interesting identity – that of a professional who not only has their earthly affairs in order but also seems to belong to the highest echelon of the human spirit.
But personal development is not yet spirituality. Psychology, well-being, and philosophy are not spiritual simply because they touch on “the mind.” Being witty or inspired is not spiritual, and spirituality has, in essence, nothing to do with business. Yes, spirituality is Work, but a discipline of a completely different order – and in the new-age psychology that some LinkedIn trainers are focused on, I rarely find any spiritual content at all.

In a time when Truth is fast becoming increasingly difficult to discern, it’s essential to name things correctly. Spirituality, as a transpersonal dimension, is about Truth (and no, certainly not about “your own truth”!). By presenting half-baked ideas about “zen” or “your authentic self” as spiritual, we dilute the meaning of spirituality. Unbearable, especially when understanding how desperately there is a need for Truth, and thereby direction, in a world that has completely lost its connection to the Divine.

Personally, I am serious in my path of cultivation, developing the qualities that may eventually lead to Spirituality. The business world operates on a fundamentally different axis of attention.