Joe Perez attempted to define his spiritual philosophy and did such an admirable job that I’m compelled to post it. I could not have put it better:

A philosophy of life should keep me grounded in being in the world and in my body and emotions, affirm the value and dignity of life, and encourage living with richness, abundance, and an ethical sensitivity towards others. A rich and abundant life, it seems to me, is one that affirms our individuality, encourages deep, affectionate, and intimate long-term relationships and friendships, and staying interconnected with the pulses and rhythms of nature in joyous and non-destructive ways.

A philosophy of life should have a realistic appraisal of the dark side of human life and the potential for humans to think and act in delusional, destructive, and death-dealing ways. The philosophy must also demand that individuals take responsibility for their own beliefs and actions, and insist that we strive to own our projections of negative attributes, rather than directing our attention to the supposed “evil” of others or directing our attention to endeavours outside of our control.

A philosophy of life should define spirituality as efforts to realize greater self-awareness with the aim of overcoming limiting beliefs and behaviors that keep us from living with inner peace and health of mind, body, and spirit. A philosophy of life should not seek to diminish, sentimentalize, or rationalize the mysterious and awe-inspiring nature of life. And it will avoid providing supposedly certain answers for understanding the mystery of death.

A philosophy of life should invite us to humbly live with an awareness that what immortality is to be found in life may be had by directing our full energy and attention to this life and this world as it presents itself to us, and by honoring with gratitude the memories of the departed and best wisdom traditions of all those on whose shoulders we stand.