I find it can be very useful. You just have to change your concept of it. Spirit is a word- a tool comprised of six parts, also tools in senses. Even.the sound of the word can be seen as toolish, as any word or combination of.
It helps nobody to say there's a difference between spirit and soul unless you break down as close to exactly as possible what YOU mean with each word- what they mean to you. As with subjective reality, we can only try to be exact; we can only try to be objective...
I'm guessing you're thinking that soul is like "you" retaining your"self" after death, and continuing to experience. I don't see a difference between soul and spirit, myself. I can see how others might, but I see everything as "spirit". It's just a word. It helps me see unity.
People can mean so many things with words. I'd like to say that's their right, so that we can all get along, but many aren't... aren't "right" enough, or at all, at least by the view of some potentially more unifying, or capable of spreading "understanding", hence it carries power. It gives power. It reveals power. It's stronger.
Spirit is God. Spirit is death, decay, dysfunction for function. It falls apart to reveal ways together. Sick to heal.
Spirit is your birth, family, voice, diet, contents of environment, every way you effect others, have effected...
How can you even say you have a TRUE individual identity, with your spirit- all that you are in with, depend on, listen to, try to be think, your parents, and how they raised you, and their parents (family). In a sense, you've been alive in countless others, even animals before you, or forms compatible, as we're all compatible or else we wouldn't exist here- compatible on levels. but an overall compatible in form and process to exist occupying the same chain... system. It's not far fetched that this too is you.. your spirit. It is you reflecting you.
