I do have a belief, not in a God with a personality, or as some kind of separate entity.

I think the universe is aware and conscious, and that while I operate well enough inside this body and with these characteristics, that part of me will continue when my body dies.

Like your mother LH I've experienced some moments of awareness outside my body, for that I feel very lucky. But it hasn't transformed me in any way or made life seem better - it has just given me a different perspective.

I come from a family of athiests, strong on rationality and intolerant of self-delusion. And I respect very much where they come from, and try and be as rational as my eccentric self lets me.

But I can't take away that experience, and it was not delusion. If it was something I could trick myself into, I'd do it every day, it felt so great.