It’s All Spiritual
Well, folks…real estate has kept life in a blur since the end of last year. A good thing, but time for blogging has not appeared. I am missing it terribly though and hope life is enough on an even keel (or maybe I’m just delusional) that I can write a little, or at least publish posts written by someone else occasionally.
Here is a great post from one of my favorite people, Jan Lundy. Jan writes on all things spiritual. I always learn something that gives me thought…
I believe that everything is spiritual. Everything. Allow me to explain.
You may or may not know that I am a Spiritual Director, a trained and certified somebody who companions people on their spiritual journeys. I “sit” with people. We talk, once a month for one hour, and navigate the seas of their spiritual lives—together.
The first time I connect with someone in this way I usually ask, “So, how is your spiritual life going these days?”
Nine times out of ten they answer, “Great!” and they explain how wonderful things are for them in that department. Then, if I wait a few more moments, they’ll add, “But…”
The “but” often sounds like this:
“But I really hate my boss.” Or,
“I’ve been fighting a lot with my husband.” Or,
“My neighbor drives me crazy.”
I think you catch my drift. We have a tendency to think that our spiritual life is separate from our “daily” life. We compartmentalize our lives into spiritual and non-spiritual. In reality, it’s all the same thing.
In fact, it is within the context of human relationship that we’ll learn the most about ourselves. Within relationship we are able to experience, up close and personal, how well we are walking our spiritual talk—actually being the spiritual persons we claim ourselves to be. Living in the “real” world—going to work or school, being partnered, having kids, living in a neighborhood—is how we come to fully develop (and round out) our spiritual lives.
We get to see the light and the dark of us. We observe how we close our hearts to others, hold grudges, gossip, and slander. We also have the opportunity to grow, to open ourselves, forgive, be generous and loving.
This is where the spiritual journey really begins. We begin to look at how well we are embodying the spiritual values we say we have. We examine all the areas of our life—friends, family, workplace, church/temple, neighborhood, school—and determine if we are being our “spirit self” in those arenas.
For example, you might ask yourself, in the context of your intimate relationship, am I living out the values of Spirit that I hold dear? Am I peaceful, openhearted, generous? Kind, patient, forgiving with this person?
Or am I aligned, instead, with the values of the ego? Am I angry, hurt, closed down? Am I stingy, impatient, disappointed with them?
If the first scenario is true, I would venture to say that your “spiritual life” is going pretty well because you are bringing your best self (your spirit self) to the table of relationship. If the second scenario is true, I’d say that your ego may be having a field day, keeping you distant from a rich-in-spirit life.
What this all boils down to are a few key questions: Am I living as my truest self—whose essence is Spirit—and do I embrace ALL the qualities of spirit inherent within me? Or, do I have “work” to do on my self?
This is why I propose that everything is spiritual. Every human interaction invites us to engage with others through our spirit, especially the most difficult ones. Every conversation, every encounter, invites to be more than our personality, our woundedness, our ego self. In fact, difficult others may be our greatest teachers on the spiritual path. They show us—simply by being who they are—who we can ultimately be.
They invite us to be a living, breathing, manifestation of Spirit; to be our loving, most compassionate selves.
In my book, that’s a spiritual life work making. Everything belongs …
I welcome your comments and wonder if you, too, think that everything is spiritual. Check out more Jan at her website: http://www.awakened-living.blogspot.com/
Posted on February 8th, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spirituality
Excellent article. I agree that all of life is part of the spiritual package and that we need to go through life with that in the forefront of our thoughts. We probably all “need work” but I think if we keep all of our actions in line with our spiritual beliefs, we’ll get a lot farther down the road!
Mary,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I absolutely agree. I like what you said about keeping our spiritual beliefs (whatever they might be) in the forefront. If we are able to “lead with them” everything does fall into place. Especially in challenging times…. Blessings!
Jan, great post and I could not agree more. “Your life is your practice” is one of my favorite phrases. If we are ’spiritual beings having a human experience’ how could any part of that experience be non-spiritual? On the other hand, I do value formal spiritual practice, for myself anyway, but it is very different for each person I believe….
Hi Jan,
I love your distinction about how our spiritual life and daily life are actually “one” and that if one part isn’t doing well, it is a reflection of or on the other part.
Best to you as you get settled in the south!! Jodi
It’s interesting how I notice that some of my spiritual beliefs play in to how i operate in my new real estate gig. Exactly what you are saying. Sometimes it’s hard to explain to someone else why I am operating the way I do because it’s really a part of my spiritual approach. Real estate is full of people making very emotional decisions that may not actually be in their best financial interest…I can try to help them see from a different viewpoint but I find that sometimes the best thing is to let it go and let the universe take over. Boy, is THAT a change from how I would have approached things 15 years ago
Thanks Jan for a great post!
Hi Allison - yes Jan is great isn’t she ..
Hi Jan - as I’m no working with you through the meditation challenge - I need to do more of this to get a better understanding. I have had an interesting experience recently that throws for me a different light on things .. and these two areas will marry at some stage - but it’s way too early days and I need you and your journey first.
I am looking forward to it .. from a tired slightly older middle ager!! Just from circumstances that will change in time .. - have good days tomorrow .. Hilary
Lisa,
I agree that every experience can take us deeper into our essence our further away and spiritual practices DO help us maintain the equanimity to do so, to choose well…Thanks for your comment!
Jodi,
Happy to know that you too can see beyond compartmentalizing. Reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on inter-beingness. Everything is interconnected and interrelated. Nothing arises without affecting another. I appreciate your presence here.
Allison,
This is a wonderful noticing! And it sure affirms how our spiritual lives are really the cornerstone of everything else we do. How wonderful you can support your clients from this perspective. They are very lucky to have you….Blessings!
Hi Jan,
Yes, yes, YES! Every moment is indeed an opportunity to open to spirit…to practice compassion, kindness, curiosity, generosity….to seek out blessing…to understand why we are here. Certainly, not to judge…but to embrace. Even the yucky, difficult, frustrating and painful stuff…these are often the richest opportunities for spiritual growth.
Great post Jan, thanks
xoxo
Hi Ladies.
Jan, hope you are settling in well for your Florida stay. Will you be videoing your talk at the Expo? I would for sure enjoy watching that!
Beautiful post, of course. I too believe that we are spirits in the material world. Everything we are comes from the light of love.
Lately I’ve been finding fault with one particular person, not even that close to me, my ego is sure trying to justify my negative emotions towards her. It’s hard for me to let go, but I know I must for inner and outer harmony. So I know where my work lies!
Jan, this is a timely post for me. When I am at my best, I totally believe that everything is spiritual. It’s when things fall apart that I have doubts ~ If I’ve done the work, why are things not working out? I’ve been kind, generous, and forgiving, so why is s/he giving me a hard time? Or, the ego’s favorite, why am I always the one who has to give in or change to make things work in any relationship? Many years and lots of work later I still have these questions sometimes. Then I take a deep breath, center myself, let go, and move on. For years I really thought/hoped that at some point this would get easier. I now think it’s more about accessing my spiritual life to get through the ego-driven times, asking spirit to guide me through the obstacle course of life.
Great observations ladies. And Laura, YES, it does seem that through the most difficult and frustrating times comes the biggest opportunity for growth. Dang it!
It seems to me that the reason is that when we are in any of those negative emotional spaces, and fear is one of the biggest, that’s when our ego steps in. It’s really a protective device isn’t it? It’s what we are used to falling back on. So, for me, frustration and irritation usually mean I’m confronting that ego of mine.
And I too used to think well, I’m being all kind good and compassionate here, why are things still difficult?? Ha, doesn’t work that way does it? Dang it, again!
But looking back, it’s amazing how far I’ve come, takes less to trigger now.
I’m a great fan of Janice Lundy and her wonderful books. So nice to read her piece here, and to find more inspiration, especially on these gloomy days in February! Likewise, this phrase resonates with me: “Your life is your practice.” Janice has this rich way of making everyday life a lovely spiritual journey and her work is accessible to all. Sometimes I forget that I don’t HAVE to go to church or retreat to a monastery to renew myself spiritually. Thanks for the reminder.
Laura,
You are so right. Opportunities at every corner and even though we may not like it, especially the yuck of life. If we can suspend judgment and see all as lessons in the making, it sure makes everything a lot lighter. xo
Jannie,
Very candid of you to notice (and admit) that the one who bugs you the most right now is the greatest teacher. Oh, yes, tis true. We do have our work cut out for us in this arena.
Sharon,
I appreciate your candor too. I do think it gets easier with time and practice. We can let go of things more easily. I personally like the question, Do I want to be right or to be happy? It allows me to walk away more easily or to reach out and embrace, even when I sense resistance at first. Of course, this is why we call it spiritual practice….(wink)
Allison,
Noticing how far we’ve come is a very good thing! So glad you are able to give voice to your own progress.
Cindy,
Thank you for your kind comments. Tis true that we can “plug into the Divine” in so many ways. May we all continue to find ours….
Allison,
Thank you again for featuring my blog post here. I appreciate how you share your heart and journey with us. It inspires us onward - Bloom On!
Hope all is well with you, Allison. Missing your presence in the blogosphere.