An Exploratory Study of the Effects of Paranormal and Spiritual Experiences on People's Lives and Well-Being

Index of Changes Resulting From Experiences

Paranormal or transcendent experiences may or may not bring about certain changes in an individual's life. We would like to know in what ways, if any, your experience(s) affected your life. For each characteristic or feeling listed below, please check the box in the second column that best describes how you were before your experience(s), and the box in the third column that best describes the changes in your life resulting from your experience(s).

Characteristic or Feeling	To what degree did you have this characteristic or feeling before the paranormal or transcendent experience(s) occurred? --------------------------------------------- Very Very Don't Much Some Little Know	How did this characteristic or feeling change as a result of the paranormal or transcendent experience(s)? ------------------------------------------- No Increased Change Decreased
Sense of purpose or meaning for my life	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Worry and fears about the future	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Interest in spiritual or religious matters	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Fear of death	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Desire to help others	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Feelings of depression or anxiety	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Sense of connection to others	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Focus on living in the present	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Interest in the paranormal	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Desire to have a high standard of living	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Belief in a higher power	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Frustration with incompetent people	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Feelings of happiness and well-being	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Ability to express love	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Feeling that my life has no direction	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Motivation to maintain my health	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Belief in life after death	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Optimism about the future	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Feelings of isolation or loneliness	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Tolerance for others	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Desire to achieve a higher consciousness	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]	[ ] [ ] [ ]
Please indicate whether the changes mentioned above were primarily due to just one paranormal or transcendent experience or were the result of more than one: ____ Due to just one of them. ____ Due to more than one of them.

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APPENDIX B

Checklist of Effects of Experiences

Please place a check mark by any statement below that describes how your paranormal or transcendent experience(s) affected you. Check as many statements as apply to your experience(s).

____ One or more paranormal experiences helped me avoid injury or avoid a serious personal or financial problem. ____ One or more paranormal or transcendent experiences helped me accept and understand death. ____ As a result of my paranormal or transcendent experience(s), I am certain there is life after death. ____ A paranormal or transcendent experience made me very afraid. ____ A paranormal or transcendent experience was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. ____ When I was thinking about making a major life change, one or more paranormal or transcendent experiences seemed to confirm or reinforce that I should make the change. ____ One or more paranormal or transcendent experiences motivated me to make a major life change that I was not previously thinking about making. ____ I became significantly more spiritual or religious as a result of my paranormal or transcendent experience(s). ____ One or more paranormal or transcendent experiences seemed to confirm or reinforce that I was doing what I should be doing. ____ I feel like I have a purpose or mission in life as a result of my paranormal or transcendent experience(s). ____ One or more paranormal experiences played a role in helping me meet someone with whom I formed an important personal or professional relationship. ____ My paranormal or transcendent experience(s) have made me more happy and confident. ____ One or more paranormal or transcendent experiences played a role in helping me overcome a difficult personal problem. ____ As a result of my paranormal or transcendent experience(s), I believe my life is guided or watched over by a higher force or being. ____ I have had paranormal and/or transcendent experiences since childhood. ____ My paranormal or transcendent experience(s) have made me more anxious and insecure. ____ My paranormal experience(s) have been scary with no positive value that I can find. ____ I have had one or more experiences that I am certain were paranormal, and not just coincidence or imagination. ____ One or more of the statements checked above was due to a sequence or combination of more than one paranormal and/or transcendent experiences. ____ My paranormal and/or transcendent experiences have had little effect on my life so far.

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