How To Develop Your Spiritual Intelligence According to Stephen Covey

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

While working on my latest book, I had more than a few people ask me about spirituality.

They wanted a succinct explanation or a simple model for Spiritual Intelligence.

A Simple Model for Spiritual Intelligence

I started going through various definitions, models, and testing what I could find.

Here’s what I arrived at:

• Making meaning
• Living your values
• Finding your purpose
• Making impact

To summarize, the most useful patterns and practices I found are living your values, finding your unique contribution, and shaping a better version of yourself.

This happens to be the foundation that underscores my You 2.0  guide (which might explain why it hit a sweet spot with so many people.)

Stephen Covey on Spiritual Intelligence

I wanted to find a model that’s simple, practical, and proven.  I turned to Stephen Covey.

Here’s how Covey distills Spiritual Intelligence:

1. Integrity – Being true to one’s highest values and conscience)
2. Meaning – A sense of contribution to people and causes.
3. Voice – Aligning work with one’s unique calling and gifts.

In yet another way, he spins it as –

Meaning, integrity and contribution – “serving and lifting all stakeholders: customers, suppliers, employees and their families, communities, society — making a difference in the world (SPIRIT) “

3 Ways to Develop Your Spiritual Intelligence

Covey also provides common ways to develop it:

1. Read and meditate (Stephen Covey’s personal approach)
2. Immersion in great literature or great music
3. Find it in the way you communicate with nature

I was actually surprised by how simply and elegantly Covey addresses spirituality.

I like the fact that he provides a simple lens and frames it as spiritual intelligence.

It was also refreshing to see a pragmatic and non-dogmatic approach to looking beyond mind, body, and heart, into the spiritual side of things.

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