people change usually because of big shocks. people who suddenly find spiritualism in their lives usually encounter great tragedy, great loss, or perhaps a near-death experience. faced with some form of an existential crisis (there's even a wiki entry on this), they suddenly question their priorities in life, when they take a step back and take the proverbial look at the man-in-the-mirror.
we all know really bad things will happen to us eventually. or at least, things we generally regard as really bad or tragic. shouldn't we change our perception on lives in anticipation, so it doesn't hit us like a ton of bricks? or at least, re-prioritize while we can think logically?
but i suppose it doesn't really work that way. we're simply not very good at figuring out what really matters until we're forced to do so. especially when i) our current lives are fine or ii) we have trouble putting food on the table so got no time to do anything other than trying to get my family the basic necessities or iii) it takes too much energy to think about it and since i don't know where the tragedy is coming from (and perhaps it will never come), i might as well deal with it then.
so, spiritualism is almost another word for "rationalizing/dealing with shit in my life"? (suffering is the more appropriate word but "shit" seems more to the point...)
