Honestly, I don't believe any of it.
I love the whole idea of people putting their intentions out into the universe, and the universe provides... but I'm convinced that's more about people being focused and interpreting situations into useful opportunities. I really do think most spiritual situations is mainly coincidence and people's interpretations. People can witness an event and interpret it in an infinite number of ways.

I do think that after we die, there's no part of us that lives on... except the memories we instill in others, and the legacy we leave behind... and that's completely okay. We really don't need to be remembered forever.. but if we try to leave the world in a better place than when we entered it, then we've done our job.

That said... it's super hard to tell a child that lost their parent that they aren't in a better place looking over them...

Obviously we feel a connection between others and animals and things, and if people want to give that a name other than fondness, that's great... if it means people treat their community and environment then I'm all for it... but if it also means people choose what they feel connected to, and what they don't... and act uncharitably towards people, animals, things outside their circles then they're probably doing more harm than good.