Today more than ever people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds are seeking answers to questions such as; is this all life has to offer? Why am I here? What is my purpose? I have everything I want, so why am I still not happy? Many are finding their answer in spirituality.
It is important to note that the practice of spirituality is different from religion as it does not follow a specific set of organized community beliefs and practices. Spirituality is a practice that enables you to better connect to the self, others and the world around you. It develops your own personal value system and gives meaning to your life.
Spirituality has been defined as an individual practice which gives you a sense of inner peace and purpose. It can incorporate a mix of personal reflection, psychology, religion, meditation, yoga, mystical and esoteric traditions. Whatever the mix, the focal points are on well-being, personal development, the realization that each life has meaning, purpose and that all things are connected.
The practice of spirituality offers many benefits when done on a consistent basis. In fact, some benefits such as reduced stress levels can be felt almost immediately. With regular spiritual practice you can expect to see improvements in all areas of your life. Listed below are five offerings:
- Feeling a sense of purpose.
- Gratitude.
- An increased ability to stay calm in all situations.
- Feeling a better connection to your authentic self, other people and the world.
- Being more positive and happy.
Regular spiritual practice awakens the authentic self and frees it from fear. It allows you to discover that inner peace and happiness is found within and is not reliant on material possessions, social status, or someone’s approval.
There are many ways to express and practice spirituality. The path to discovery begins with self reflection. Below are a couple of helpful tools for you to use as you begin your journey towards a more fulfilled and happy spiritual life.
Journals are a great tool for helping you sort out and express your feelings. They keep track of all your thoughts and help you document your progress towards self actualization.
A gratitude journal should be used daily. Simply write down three to five things that you are grateful for. It can be a person, place or thing from the past or present. Doing so helps you to stay focused on all of the positive things happening in your live and it can alleviate depression.
Another helpful discipline is Meditation. It is one of the most effective ways to calm the body and focus the mind to find inner peace. This ancient practice has several tools that you can use to help you master the practice.
Bells are often used in meditation to mark the beginning and the end of a session. They can also be struck during the meditation to provide the listener with a focal point in which to concentrate their attention.
Incense has been used in meditation for thousands of years to cleanse the air, add fragrance and as an aid to intensify focus. Incense burning also heightens your awareness, elevates the spirit, calms the body and brings harmony to the mind.
There are many roads on the path to spiritual discovery. There is no right or wrong roads; there is only the journey, balanced in its unique way to help you discover your own personal value system, spiritual path and a life of meaning.
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