There is a deep yearning for spiritual meaning which drives individuals to seek values beyond work, love, and physical well being. In their book Passion For Life: Psychology and the Human Spirit, Muriel James and John James describe this search as "the hunger to get more out of life, to give more back, to be more involved, and to find more meaning."
They see spirit as the animating principle in life. It expresses itself in seven basic urges, which are explicated in detail by Muriel and John James. The urges are the urge to live, the urge to be free, the urge to understand, the urge to create, the urge to enjoy, the urge to connect, and the urge to transcend. When these spiritual impulses are blocked by fear, guilt, or anxiety, we feel defeated or diminished. That is why the authors see the passion of life as "the intense desire, interest, and willingness to release the inner urges of the soul."
Besides offering an impressive array of thought-provoking quotations, the James's provide spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter. Passion For Life is a very helpful resource for those who are looking for something more in their spiritual lives than rules, regulations, or traditional rituals.