There are moments in our lives when we question who we are and what we want out of life. These types of questions can feel daunting, especially if you need help figuring out how or where to begin the search for an answer. This can be even more challenging if you’re a novice just starting to explore your spirituality.
Find your definition
To be spiritual is to be connected to the world around you.
Whether you’re connecting with your inner voice, connecting with others, or connecting with the natural world—it’s all about being present and mindful in your life.
To be spiritual is to be curious about and want to know more about the world. It’s also about being open to new ideas and experiences, even if they don’t fit into your current beliefs.
Spirituality isn’t just one thing; it can mean different things to different people. Some people find it through prayer, meditation, and still others through a connection with nature. But no matter what form it takes for you, spirituality is an essential part of human life that helps us grow and learn as individuals by allowing us to connect and our environment.
Spirituality is a personal journey that can be defined in many ways. Some people consider their spiritual life to be the time they spend with their family or friends, while others may feel most connected when they’re out in nature. Whatever your definition of spirituality is, it’s important not to compare yourself with other people—everybody’s experience is different!
Talk to spiritual people
If you want to be more spiritual, talking to already spiritual people is the best thing to do. They can help you figure out how they got there and what they do.
You can find people interested in spirituality in your community or even online. Many communities and organizations are centered around spirituality, from meditation to religious groups. And if we’re being honest, most of us have a friend who loves talking about spirituality—maybe even someone in our family!
You might be surprised at how many people share your interests. You might find new friends who share your love of meditation or yoga!
Reading books on spirituality or listening to podcasts related to your interests is also helpful. You can learn much about yourself and others through these resources.
Finally, try going on a retreat or meditation retreat. These experiences can help open your mind to learn more about yourself and what makes life worth living!
Be mindful of what inspires you
Do certain things move you? Is there music that makes your heart sing? Is it a book that makes your mind open? When you find what brings you the best, you can help connect with spirituality.
Does nature inspire you? You may like to spend time in the woods or on a beach, watching the sun rise and set or feeling the breeze in your hair as you lie on your back and stare at the sky.
Maybe people inspire you—like your best friend, a favorite aunt, or someone at work who always cracks jokes during meetings. Perhaps it’s books that inspire you: perhaps you’re into poetry or sci-fi, or self-help books. Or maybe music inspires you—maybe there’s a song that gets stuck in your head all day long, or perhaps there are just certain guitar riffs that get your blood pumping and make your heart feel light.
Whatever inspires you, just remember when you’re feeling down and out. Remember how good it feels when you’re doing something that inspires you—whether reading a book on the beach or running on a cold winter morning—and try to follow those feelings as closely as possible!
If you’re still stuck, try meditating every day for 5 minutes. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—just close your eyes and focus on your breath as it goes in and out of your body. You don’t have to set the alarm if 5 minutes seems too long; just set a timer and go from there.
Consider your past experiences
When trying to be spiritual, starting with your past experiences is helpful. Think about the moments that have made you feel most connected to something greater than yourself, whether God, nature, or some other divine force.
When I think back on the moments in my life when I felt closest to God, they are often associated with music—whether it was singing in a choir or hearing my favorite piece played by an orchestra. Music has always been one of the things that has brought me closest to God, and I also love being surrounded by nature—walking through forests and parks is one of my favorite things to do.
So consider what activities bring you closest to your own experience of spirituality and use those to inspire you to be more spiritual in your daily life.
Now that you better understand spirituality, it’s time to take action! The next step is deciding how exactly you want to practice your spirituality. You can do this by focusing on one aspect of spirituality at a time or by trying out different practices until one stick with you.
Try not to be judgmental
We’re all spiritual beings. That’s a fact. So why do we feel so disconnected from our spirituality?
The answer is simple: we’re too busy judging ourselves and others to be able to connect with our inner light.
Think about it. When was the last time you were fully present in your own body? When you look at another person and see them for who they are without comparing them to some judgment, feeling judgment about their appearance?
When was the last time you listened to music and felt like it connected with something deep within yourself?
All these things require us to be present in our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls—which takes practice! But once you start practicing mindfulness and cultivating peace within yourself (and with others), it’ll become more accessible daily. I offer services for spiritual awakening and life coaching, feel free to contact me for more details.