Facing up to the task of spiritual growth in a world governed by greed and power is daunting at best. Modern conveniences and technology such as television, magazines and the internet have turned us into techno junkies with little considerations beyond our physical needs and wants. We have reached a point where our concept of self-worth and self-meaning are confused. Many of us are seeking to find a balance in our lives where our spiritual andphysical selves are both satisfied.
To grow spiritually, you need to analyze yourself from the inside. That is, you need to understand what makes you tick. Reflect on your feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and your motivation. By examining your decisions, relationships, and experiences, you are able to map your life’s goals and aspirations. You are able to ascertain what your good traits are and sustain them whilst discarding your bad traits that are holding you back.
You also learn alternative ways to act or react in any situation. Introspection can be learned as long as you have the mettle to seek out the truths that lie within you. This in itself can often be confronting. However, part of learning to grow spiritually is by being objective in your analysis of self. The objective is to forgive yourself and focus on areas for improvement.
To grow spiritually is to develop your potential. The views about matters of human spirit differ quite markedly between science and religions. Religion sees the human being as being a temporary resident of the earth where science sees the spirit as only one facet of the individual.
In both Western and Eastern religious teachings, the needs of the spirit are recognized before the needs of the physical self. They believe that beliefs, morality, values and good deeds are what ensure the growth of the spiritual self.
In science Maslow’s hierarchy of needs identifies things such as physiological needs, security, and sense of belonging, self esteem, and otherphysical needs as being more urgent than that of spiritual need. However, the belief of self actualization would indicate that the spiritual needs are indeed important. Realistically, all of these requirements lead to the total development of the individual.
To grow spiritually is to search for meaning. Religions that believe in the reality of God such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe that the function of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several assumptions in psychology suggest that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist.
When we are born, we have no idea of the meaning of our life but, as we progress of life’s journey, we learn through our relationships with other people and situations we encounter. As we learn this meaning, we affirm and reject certain beliefs and values. Our lives have purpose that puts all of our physical, intellectual, and emotional abilities to use. These traits are what sustain us during the bad times and allows us a goal to achieve. A person who has no meaning or purpose to their life is like a ship drifting aimlessly at sea.
One of the core components of spiritual growth is to recognize the importance of interconnectedness. No matter what the religion, they speak of our connectedness to creation, both live and inanimate. Deity centeredreligions also recognize a relationship between humans and a higher being.
Science, on the other hand, sees our link as being through the theory of evolution. This relationship between living and non living things is seen in the concept of ecology. In psychology, interconnectedness is recognized as a characteristic of self actualization or self transcendence which is the highest human need.
By the recognition of your connectedness to all things, you learn humility and respect toward all things in nature. You learn appreciation of everything around you and you begin to move out of your comfort zone and reach out to others.
Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, furtherspiritual growth is made possible.
Feel free to visit Anne's websites at http://www.ozespirit.allinonehealth.com and http://www.private-millionaire.org/ozespirit-invitation-page.aspx
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