The process of self-discovery is deeply personal and transformative. Taking a self-discovery journey allows us to explore who we are, who we want to be, and what paths we can take to achieve our highest self.
Your self-discovery journey will look different than mine, your neighbor’s, and your best friend’s. It’s unique to you. You can take several paths of discovery on your journey, but exploring spirituality is often seen as one of the most powerful.
Before we begin, I want to clarify that when I use the terms “Divine” or “God” in this blog, I refer to whatever you consider sacred or a higher source of spiritual energy. It’s all about how you define God based on your own beliefs.
In my practice, I often draw from the principles of Christianity, as it is the foundation of my beliefs. However, I also incorporate teachings from other faiths to convey certain concepts. There is no rulebook when it comes to spirituality. It works best when you tailor it to you specifically. Do not feel pressured to ensure your spiritual beliefs and practices fit into a box.
For example, one of my inspirations is the Indian mystic Ramana Maharshi, who frequently encouraged his followers to ask themselves, “Who am I?” Well, the answer is that we are spirit.
People have a deep longing for spirituality in their lives, whether it comes from organized religion or other sources. Our minds, desires, fears, and needs often control us. While we may exercise regularly to maintain physical fitness, we frequently neglect training our minds and souls.
Emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness is often overlooked, but it’s just as important as physical wellness. You can be in the best physical shape of your life, but that doesn’t matter at all if your mind and spirit are faltering.
Just like physical fitness, spiritual fitness takes time and dedication. It’s a regular practice you must be consistent with to see results. Regularly incorporating these concepts can enhance our capacity to connect with the Divine, leading to greater harmony, wisdom, and inner growth.
Spirituality: Committing to the Divine
To facilitate a consistent spiritual practice, make a conscious choice to connect with the Divine daily. When you wake up in the morning, take a few mindful breaths and commit to caring for yourself for the day ahead.
This includes nourishing your body with healthy food, moving your body, being kind to yourself, and taking moments throughout the day to recharge. By doing so, you will improve your ability to care for others. The concept of caring for yourself and the living beings around you is a key principle of spirituality, regardless of the faith you most align with.
Throughout the day, be aware of your thoughts and actions. Are you letting your reactive mind control you, or are you letting the Divine guide your attitude and behavior?
It’s essential to be a friend to yourself through positive self-talk, as this enables you to be a friend to others. Negative self-talk can drastically bring you down, both internally and externally. From forcing you to withdraw from social situations to sparking conflicts with others and preventing you from forming healthy relationships, our inner voice can make or break us.
Setting your intention to connect with the Divine and lovingly care for your mind and body is a spiritual decision you should make daily. Starting from the moment you wake up, you should set your clear intentions and then carry them with you throughout the day.
FACT: If you find yourself reacting harshly and impulsively to people and circumstances outside of your control, it’s likely your human ego influencing your words and actions rather than the ethereal.
Incorporate the Centering Prayer in Spirituality
The centering prayer originates from Father Thomas Keating, a Catholic monk and priest. It involves selecting a sacred word that symbolizes your intention to consent to the presence and actions of God within you. This word can be “Jesus” or any other holy being of your choosing. It could also be something as simple as “peace,” “mercy,” or “light.”
Quietly bring this sacred word into your awareness, reminding yourself that you intend to use it as a conduit for experiencing God’s presence in your life. When an inevitable distraction arises, gently redirect your focus back to the word and repeat it to yourself.
Dedicate a few minutes each day to this practice. One of the best parts of this practice is that you can do it anywhere — in your car, at the office, when you wake up, or before bed.
In your spiritual journey, remember that the centering prayer isn’t intended to replace other kinds of worship. Instead, it’s meant to add more depth of meaning to prayer in general, as it supplements more active forms, like verbal prayer.
At its heart, the centering prayer is meant to deepen your relationship with God, the Divine, or whatever spiritual force you’ve aligned yourself with on your journey to further your spirituality. One of the most significant benefits of the centering prayer is that it’s widely accessible and fitting for just about anyone.
Return to a Joyful Memory
Memory is extremely powerful. It allows you to transcend space and time, reliving cherished memories. These might be times when your children were born or special moments with a friend or loved one.
When you’re having a rough day and feeling down, reminiscing on happier times can help you recenter yourself and find a sense of hope and light amidst whatever darkness you may be facing at the moment. Transporting yourself back to that situation allows you to tap into joy, which is accompanied by love – that which is the essence of God.
As Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “Nowhere is there a more idyllic spot, a vacation home more private and peaceful, than in one’s own mind, especially when it is furnished in such a way that the merest inward glance induces ease. Take this vacation as often as you like, and so charge your spirit.”
While returning to joyful memories can work wonders for our emotions and spirituality, do not get stuck in the past. It’s essential to always be aware of and open to the experiences of the present moment. They, too, are filled with divine energy, light, and joy. And it’s entirely possible that you’ll call upon those present moments in the future and consider them joyful memories, too.
Go Out in Nature
“Nature is the art of God,” proclaimed Dante Alighieri, the renowned Italian poet and author, six centuries ago, and this still rings true today. There is a healing power in the natural world that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Spirituality and nature have gone hand-in-hand for centuries across varying cultures.
Step outside, take a leisurely stroll and immerse yourself in the environment’s natural beauty. Set aside your phone and be fully present in your surroundings.
One of the enchanting qualities of young children is their ability to pause and marvel at the simplest creatures, like a snail. Embrace this same curiosity and appreciate a delicate flower. Pay closer attention to how the grass sways in the breeze or how the leaves glitter under the sunlight.
Engaging in such moments establishes a profound connection with the divine energy that permeates all of nature. Embrace the wonders of the natural world, and you will find yourself attuned to the essence of God.
Simply Get Started
You do not need to wait for the “right time” to begin your journey toward spirituality and self-discovery. Any time is a good time, and truly, there’s no better time than the present. As Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Your spiritual journey is a lifelong venture. The best thing you can do for yourself is to simply get started.
Luckily, seeking spirituality isn’t a new concept. People have been embarking on spiritual quests for centuries and have made countless discoveries about themselves and the world around them. They’ve been gracious enough to document and share with the world so that the rest of us may seek the same development and growth.
It’s important to respect those who came before you. While your spiritual journey should be your own, do not overlook the findings of those who have searched for spirituality long before you. Consider reading their writings and researching their teachings. However, do not feel limited in your pursuit of knowledge.
You can—and should—look to those outside of the faith or spiritual entity you’ve connected yourself with. This helps you expand your horizons and learn to accept and understand other practices and ideas of spirituality.
That said, don’t be afraid of some questions going unanswered. In your pursuit of spirituality, you will likely have many questions and want to learn as much as possible to develop your practice. However, remember the old adage, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” You will not get all your questions answered the first time you decide to connect to the Divine or be present in nature.
Spirituality is a practice for a reason. You must be open to the journey and seek answers to your queries over time. In part, one of the greatest joys of a spirituality practice is embarking on a lifelong journey toward growth, development, and truth about yourself and the world around you.
Conclusion
The process of self-discovery requires patience, dedication, and an open heart. No two journeys toward spirituality are alike, and that’s the beauty of it. Do not compare yourself to those around you or even those who came before you. Exploring spirituality is one of the most profound ways you can begin to understand yourself deeper and connect with the Divine however you choose to define it.
Every day is a new opportunity to work on deepening your spirituality practice. Start your mornings by setting your intentions to commit to the Divine and nourish your mind and body. You can also begin your day with mindful breathing to center yourself and set a positive tone for the day.
In your spirituality journey, you should also explore incorporating practices like meditation and prayer. When you stay consistent with these practices, they can have immense benefits on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Incorporating these tools helps nurture your spirituality and deepen your connection to the divine energy you align with.
Reminiscing on joyful memories and spending ample time in nature are also valuable sources of comfort and inspiration throughout your spiritual journey. During trying times, retreating in your mind to look back on happy memories can grant you a sense of peace and tranquility, connecting you to feelings of love, which is the heart of spirituality, no matter what faith you’re connected to.
Similarly, nature offers that same deeper connection. The natural world is beautifully designed and intricately connected, with aspects of the Divine touching every corner of the environment. Every leaf, breeze, ray of sunshine, and sprouting plant is brimming with divine energy. Spend time in nature to connect with it and examine your place in the natural world.
Ultimately, the most important step in your spirituality exploration and journey toward self-discovery is just to get started. Do not dwell on whether right now is the right time. Trust in your intuition that you’re ready to embark on your journey and lean on the wisdom of those who journeyed before you to help you along your way.
Remember, spirituality isn’t about the final destination. The real reward lies in the inner growth you achieve and the lessons you learn along the way. So open your heart and mind and commit to your spiritual journey today.
