Spirituality doesn't mean what you think
As the popularity of embracing spirituality into one's life has skyrocketed, it seems as if a clear understanding of the term and all it encompasses has become more difficult to define. It's natural that the more people who practice spirituality, the number of interpretations of what that word means will increase.
Spirituality doesn't mean that a person is devoted to a religion, deity or even a specific way of life. The term is commonly defined as a connection to something larger than ourselves and our own mundane, human existence. Spiritual people also tend to seek out the meaning of their lives, and the purpose of the human experience as a whole. At the root of spirituality is the urge to question everything that has been taken as fact since the moment we are able to observe how the world operates, and make assumptions based on those observations. Basically, being spiritual means that you are curious, open-minded and connected to a force larger than yourself. You are mindful of how your daily decisions will influence your future, and that of the collective human existence.
So how are you supposed to achieve that state of being? I've come up with four key aspects of spiritual practices that can be adapted to fit anyone's lifestyle. Spirituality looks different for everyone, and it's very important to note that what works for one person can leave another person feeling confused and unmotivated. Read below and see what appeals to you, then go from there.
Meditation
If you're reading this, then you're probably not at all surprised by the fact that meditation has made it onto this list. Meditation is something that appears daunting, due to the fact that most people have this image of a monk or a yogi sitting cross-legged in silence for hours as their only idea of what meditation is. However, this image is being challenged by an expansion of the popularity of meditation in the States. Companies (such as Headspace or Calm) are bringing meditations into the hands of the average American consumer. Platforms such as Spotify and Youtube have thousands of free guided meditations available to anyone. The popularity of meditation today proves how it is accessible to anyone who decides to take it seriously.
If you decide to start a meditation practice, it is helpful to first meditate along to guided meditations, where you will be guided on what to do, think and even how to breathe. This diminishes the intimidation factor of meditation, because you will know exactly what you are supposed to be doing. The reason why meditation is so valuable for spirituality is that it brings you awareness of your current thoughts, worries and beliefs about yourself, others and the world. In the high-speed chaos of everyday life, most Americans simply forget to pay attention to what has been on their mind. But even 5-10 minutes of meditating a day can bring a heightened sense of awareness of how their daily lives actually makes them feel.
Are you doing what you want to be with your life? What exists beyond the tangible world? How can I connect with my life's purpose? These are all themes that can be explored within the meditative state, and ones that will aid you in strengthening your spirituality. True awareness comes with observing your own thoughts.
Reflect
Reflection is a key way to incorporate spirituality into your life. Reflection can look different for everyone, but the most accessible way to reflect is to journal. Yes, yet another cliche activity. However, the value of reflection is quite irreplaceable by any other practice. You can sort of think of reflection as a written form of meditation, where you write down all you think and feel and whatever else you notice floating through your brain in that moment. A "guided meditation" in a written form is the same thing as writing in response to a specific journaling prompt. However, journaling has many different benefits to meditating.
Journaling is invaluable because it allows for you to track your own growth, change and progress with the passage of time. You will remember exactly where you were in life a few months ago because everything is recorded in written history, told through your own point of view. You will be able to notice more details about your emotions and what they are triggered by if they are captured in the permanence of your written words. This means that you will be able to notice more about who you are in your daily life, what you like and dislike, or what you truly want to use your energy to accomplish. If you journal everyday on your intentions for the day, you will be consistently reminded to prioritize what truly matters to you throughout the day.
Envision
Daydreaming has been labelled as an unproductive habit to have. However, when done properly, it can help for you to realize what it is you truly want in life, and how to get there. Envisioning your dream life and everything it encompasses is truly a transformative spiritual practice. The process helps for you to realize what it is that you truly want from life (a certain job, relationship or income). Most of the time, what you truly want from life is far from what you spend most of your days thinking about and working towards. Taking the time to just sit and think about your dream life, without being restricted by the boundaries of your current reality, will help for you to realize that you can truly achieve whatever it is that you've always dreamt of achieving if you believe in your personal power.
Once you realize what it is you truly want (like where you want to live, how you want to feel, how you want to act), you will be able to realize how much time you spend thinking and worrying about things that do not help you to reach that ideal. You will be able to reorganize your priorities in a way that aligns with your dream life. Instead of worrying about every little thing that goes wrong throughout the day, you will be more focused on the bigger picture of the life you are building for your future self. Taking the time to envision what you truly want for yourself paves the way for you to focus on that goal and to secure it for your future self.
Connect
In these present times of a global pandemic, it's quite difficult to feel truly connected to the people in your life and the world around you. When you spend so much time alone, it's easy to feel like you're truly alone in this world. But when you take the time to truly spend time with the earth, and the energy all around you present in nature, you begin to feel less alone. You notice just how perfectly the natural world exists in harmony without any human interference. If you can, try to find a place in nature that you connect with. This could be anything: a body of water, a hiking trail, your backyard, even a plant on your patio. Spend some time in that place truly noticing how serene and self-sufficient that that piece of nature is.
You will begin to notice that you are not much different from all of these expressions of the natural world. Your brain and body keeps you in perfect balance, just as a tree or flower's internal system knows how to keep them growing and healthy. You will notice how much is done for you within your own body, without you even noticing. A strong human connection to nature can result in increased levels of creativity, motivation, self-worth and self-awareness, all of which are qualities paving the way to spiritual strength.
Meditating, reflecting, envisioning, and connecting are all valuable spiritual practices that will assist in you accessing your true potential and power. There is no one way to be spiritual. These are just a few common themes I have noticed in my own personal journey to becoming a more spiritual, conscious being. Which of these 4 practices do you resonate most with? Do you already have a spiritual practice in your life that is working well for you? If so, share your own experiences in the comments section so we can all keep learning and growing together.
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