Spirituality

People often find that they make important breakthroughs in their lives as a result of developing their spiritual life. This summary is meant as a motivator to help you begin to cultivate and understand your spirituality.

Spirituality involves the recognition and acceptance of some "higher power" or "sustaining force" that goes beyond your own intelligence and will, and with whom or with which you can have a relationship. This "power" can provide you with an experience of inspiration, joy, security, peace of mind, and guidance that goes beyond what is possible from the mere belief that such a power exists.

For our purposes, spirituality can be seen as distinct from religion. Different world religions have proposed various doctrines and belief systems about the nature of "God" or a "Higher power" and humanity's relationship with that power. Spirituality, on the other hand, refers to the common experience behind these various points of view. It refers to an experience involving an awareness of and relationship with something that transcends (goes beyond) your personal self and the general order of things in the world. This "something" has been given various names ("God", most often in Western society), and is defined in ways that are too numerous to count. Religious definitions of who "God" is can be but often aren't what spirituality is about. You can choose to define for yourself what a "Higher Power" means in whatever way feels most appropriate. Your own sense of a "Higher Power" can be as abstract as "cosmic consciousness" or as down-to-earth as the beauty of the ocean or mountains. Even if you regard yourself an agnostic or atheist, you may get a sense of inspiration from taking a walk in the park or contemplating a beautiful sunset; or a small child's smile or a connection with another person may give you a special sense of joy. Whatever inspires you and takes you beyond yourself into a larger perspective points in the direction of what is referred to here as your "Higher Power".

It is not the purpose here to provide any particular view of spirituality. Instead, the purpose is to emphasize that there is much healing and benefit to be obtained by cultivating your spiritual life. There is also healing and benefit to be gotten from exploring the hurt you have experienced when others have tried to dictate your spiritual life to you. When we work at making ourselves better people, we usually focus on things that center around feelings, the mind, or behavior. Spiritual exploration is different because it can often reach the deepest in helping you overcome the basic feelings of fear, insecurity, aloneness, and anxiety that underlie your present difficulties. Spiritual awareness and growth can affect transformation in your whole being, as opposed to just focusing on mind, feelings, or behavior. This kind of growth can help you develop a basic trust and sustaining faith that is unshakable.

Spiritual exploration may not necessarily cure a specific anxiety, fear, or obsession, but it can provide the moral support, courage, hope, and faith you need to follow through with your personal recovery. It can provide you with a sense that you are not alone in the universe, and that there is a source of guidance, love, and support for you that is unconditional and that is always available to you at times of confusion, discouragement, disempowerment, sadness, isolation, and trauma.

Also, it is important to understand that no one pursues spiritual growth in order to "get" such benefits. The world's religions and spiritual traditions are full of stories that illustrate this--legends where a person spends years externally seeking peace, happiness, harmony, and tranquillity, only to eventually discover that the potential for these things lay right within his/herself from the beginning. You will develop yourself spiritually because you feel a deep, inner prompting to do so. The benefits one "gets" from this are simply a consequence that follows from choosing to cultivate a relationship with your own sustaining life force.

So, take a deep breath. Remember that you are a part of the universe of creation as much as the birds, stars, and trees. Realize that you are good, lovable, and worthy of respect by the very fact that you are a part of this world. Argue with your own negative judgments of yourself--remember that "God" or a "Higher Power" doesn't make junk! Think about ways you could experience less fear and more joy in your life. Think about ways that you might develop and nurture your own spiritual life.

Mapping Out Your Spiritual Time Line

Make a time line that shows this process: Show what happened when, and how it has affected you.

What things have given your life direction, and what things have threatened your life direction?

What was your spirituality like in your early memories, what did it look like then, and what Is it now?

Who are a few of the people in your life have influenced your life direction, either positively or negatively?

What important events in your life have influenced your life direction, either positively or negatively?

How do these things correspond to the changes in your spiritual life over time?

What significant struggles in your life have affected your spiritual journey?

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