Acclaimed Journalist Lisa Ling Explores One of the Most Critical Topics Facing Humanity Today

There's a moment in the first installment of "The State of Spirituality," a new series on CBS, in which Lisa Ling becomes visibly moved. The veteran reporter is following a practice guided by Dr. Lisa Miller, PhD, a leading psychologist and scientist on spirituality. That moment is a microcosm of the essence of Ling's new series: that spirituality is in and among us and can be revealed through countless unique paths, often quite simple.

Throughout her career, Ling has reported on so many subjects that impact humanity, from caregiving to alcoholism to marriage. Spirituality, she tells us, has been on her mind for a while, as she's been on a personal quest and has sought ways to weave a connection to a higher power into her two children's lives. In this new series, she explores different paths to faith and spirituality, illuminating science and profound statistics, including how 82 percent of Americans say they have a spiritual belief system.

Ling shares with us her hope for the series, what she has learned from reporting on this topic, and how spirituality boasts a salve for what ails us, younger generations and all.

A CONVERSATION WITH LISA LING

What drew you to report on spirituality?

You could say I've been on a spiritual quest for a while. I am not a particularly religious person, but I have considered myself to be very connected spiritually to a higher power. A few years ago, I read Dr. Lisa Miller's book The Spiritual Child. At the time, I had been thinking about how to introduce spirituality to my kids, and that book confirmed my desire and need to do so. The book essentially says that spirituality is the key determinant in a young person's mental well-being and that the likelihood of a young person who has a strengthened spiritual core developing depression or severe anxiety is far less than those who have no grounding in spirituality. And when you look at how divisive conversations about religion and God are in contrast with information that is backed by science that shows we are all innately spiritual beings, that set me on this path to want to explore different paths to the Divine and spirituality.

Considering how younger generations are struggling with anxiety, loneliness, and other issues, what do you feel is most important for parents to know?

We've been having so many conversations about mental health over the last few years, and we have rates of depression and anxiety soaring among our young people. The one thing that I don't think we're talking about enough is spirituality and how essential it is for young people. When you look at this generation of young people, you see that so many of them have been raised without any sense of spirituality. As Dr. Varun Soni of USC says, without that protective layer of faith, so many young people are turning to things like social media, which we all know can be incredibly toxic.

It's very difficult for young people to process all that they're being overwhelmed with, and without a sense of spiritual grounding and of a higher power, life can become quite dark. It seems like the objective in life these days, for young people and most people in general who lack a spiritual essence, is consumption. It has almost become a religion for us, and that, to me, can be so empty. So, the idea of connecting with that higher power and thinking about being part of something bigger can fill that void that so many people are feeling these days.

You include in your reporting that around 82 percent of Americans have some sort of spiritual belief system, but at the same time, many people are moving away from organized religion. Will you talk more about this?

I think many people in this country have felt shunned and even traumatized by what they experienced inside of organized religion, but they still have this desire to have and feel meaning and purpose. What we're trying to do in our series is introduce people to the different paths that people are now taking to find that spiritual fulfillment. Some include different paths to old traditions and organized religions, and some are unique paths.

There is inclusivity in this topic, which is evident in your series that no matter a person's identity or path, every one of us is a spiritual being.

Yes—and that's the thing that is so moving about what Lisa Miller talks about in her books: Science has confirmed that spirituality is innate in all of us, and people who do have a strong sense of their spiritual core have thicker tissue in their brain than people who are experiencing depression and are not grounded in spirituality. There are MRI studies that prove this.

You've reported on such a vast spectrum of topics throughout your career. What has surprised or expanded you most as you take a deeper look at spirituality?

I like to think that I have been driven by a higher power and a force greater than myself in the work I do. Learning about how essential and important it is to be connected to that force has confirmed what I've felt all along. I've started praying with my kids now. It's interesting: My husband and I had our kids late. If you were to ask our kids if they could have one wish, what would it be? They would say, 'We wish that you will live forever.' So, I have started a practice with them where we pray every night, and we are starting to meditate, and I have noticed that it does bring them comfort. When we say our prayers, we acknowledge a creator and we express our gratitude for having a roof over our heads and enough for us to be comfortable. We also pray to give us the strength to be good to our fellow humans and the plants and animals so that they, too, can feel guided by that higher power to be a good steward of humanity and the planet.

[Editor's note: This last question and answer reveals a spoiler.]

Speaking of the animals, my gosh, Lisa, that white bird! [At the end of the segment, while Lisa is interviewing Dr. Lisa Miller, a mysterious white bird lands outside their window at an opportune time.]

Honestly, Lisa Miller said that in 33 years of living there, she had never seen that white bird. And not long after we finished, that bird disappeared. She said that's often something that happens; you almost get this flash that the universe is listening to you, and then it just goes away. As we were doing that practice that Lisa Miller was guiding me on, I could hear my producer ruffling behind me, and she was chomping at the bit to tell me that she saw this bird fly by the window right behind me. It was a pretty miraculous moment. Those are things that make you think, Could it be coincidence? Certainly. But to me, it was an obvious sign.

I think about signs a lot since my father passed away. I feel his presence now almost as much, if not more, than when he was still alive. He reveals himself in signs all the time. I think that belief really instills a sense of hope and positive energy in my life.

Lisa Ling is an award-winning journalist, author, producer, and mother. Ling joined CBS News in 2023 after nine years as the executive producer and host of "This Is Life with Lisa Ling" for CNN. You can watch her new series “The State of Spirituality,” on CBS and follow Lisa on Instagram.