Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc.,Spiritual Growth Coach & Mentor, Founder of http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com , an online resource center for people exploring their spirituality. Sign up now for a fr^ee membership and receive Jennifer's guided meditation:"Sitting in the Stillness". In this meditation you will connect with your Divine Self for guidance, inspiration and expanded consciousness. Sign Up Now! http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com
As you progress on your spiritual journey, people close to you may begin to notice, and be confused by, some changes in your life perspectives. How do you explain to them what it means to grow spiritually?
Especially when so much of spiritual growth is experiential—the feeling of peace and harmony during meditation—the development of "natural knowingness" that is beyond logic and emotion—the sensitivity to the call of your heart and soul—the ability to joyfully surrender to the flow of your life.
Here is how I was finally able to define spiritual growth:
Spiritual growth is a process of developing your awareness of the reality that exists outside the range of your 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Other words for "developing your awareness" would be "expanding your consciousness."
We know there is a reality beyond our 5 senses because science can measure it. There are colors and sounds we cannot perceive, there are electrical impulses in our brain we are not aware of, there are billions of simultaneous activities going on inside the cells of our bodies that we can't feel, yet they are all measurable with scientific instruments.
As you build awareness/expand consciousness, you grow in your ability to sense subtle energies within your physical, emotional and mental bodies, the subtle energies of your environment, and the subtle energies of the people you interact with.
Why is this important? How is it useful? The more information you have in any situation, the more likely you are to find yourself responding in ways that bring you more joy with less struggle.
Developing the ability to "feel" your way through life is more joyful and successful than only relying on figuring things out. Logic is very useful for organizing, analyzing, calculating, etc., but it provides only a fraction of the information available.
Imagine a carpenter having only basic tools in the toolbox: hammer, screwdriver, saw, and a stub pencil. Sure, he could make a lot of things. But imagine having a table saw, an electric drill, a sander, etc. Imagine how much more he could produce and what better quality it could be.
So it is with spiritual growth. A person relying entirely on logic and their 5 senses can make it in the world, but how much richer and fulfilling a life can one create with the ability to also "feel" one's way in the world?
Developing spiritually is developing an inner compass that reliably let's you know when you are off course for joyful, struggle-free living long before unpleasant consequences show up to inform you.
Although this explanation of spiritual growth may, or may not, satisfy the intellectual curiosity of friends and family, you can be sure that as your life becomes more joyful and struggle-free, your family and friends will be sure to notice.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- What is Spiritual Growth?
- Improving Your Awareness On Spiritual Growth Meditation Techniques
- The Power of Absolute Honesty in Spiritual Growth
- Metaphysical Spiritual Growth And Guidance Books - A Journey Of Discovery!
- The Gift of Imagination - Conscious Evolution and Spiritual Growth With Creativity
- Spiritual Growth - Are You Whole?
- 30 Essential Tips For Spiritual Growth
- How to Measure Spiritual Growth
Finding a balance in life - StudentScholarships.org
By: Drew Backley | 07/01/2010I truly believe that finding the balance in your life is what determines your ultimate success and happiness. To find the balance in your life is to choose what is most important to you and give those things preference in everything you do.
Being an Optimist
By: Drew Backley | 07/01/2010Being an optimist is the single most important decision people can make for themselves. You can either hate it or love it; most people don’t realize that that is their decision to make.
Leave Memories of Appreciation
By: Kathleen Gage | 07/01/2010What would life be like if you could decide moment by moment your state of mind? What if you could have complete control over your response to any situation life holds for you? What if you could live in the space of gratitude and appreciation regardless of the economy, loss, change or uncertainty? Seem impossible? If not impossible, difficult at best? Living is a state of appreciation no matter what may seem unrealistic and unattainable to many people.
Maintaining a successful presence for professionals in transition
By: Patty Buccellato | 07/01/2010Being displaced from your job is an upsetting and even traumatic experience under any circumstances. Projecting a defeated or stressed outlook, however, is unlikely to attract your next position. In fact, it's likely to do the opposite. You need to take some time to rebuild your professional image from the inside out.
How To Get Over An Ex Girlfriend That I Broke Up With
By: Naomi | 07/01/2010The best way to get over your ex girlfriend quickly is to publish a long letter to your ex. Be totally sincere in this letter and tell your ex why you treasured them. Tell them how you feel about break up and if your are angry telephone them names. Being emotional in this letter is satisfactory because it's yours only. Burn the letter after it is finish. This will get you jumped on an worked up retrieval
Depression Over Ex-boyfriend
By: Naomi | 07/01/2010You know to get over your ex girlfriend quickly is to pen a long letter to your ex. Be entirely responsible in this letter and tell your ex why you cherished them. Tell them how you feel about break up and if your are angry telephone them names. Being moody in this letter is worthy because it's yours only. Burn the letter after it is complete. Doing this can get you initiated on an emotional retrieval
I Just Want A New Boyfriend And To Forget About My Ex
By: Naomi | 07/01/2010One of the first steps to get over your ex-wife quickly is to publish a long letter to your ex. Be entirely truthful in this letter and tell your ex why you favorite them. Tell them how you feel about breakup and if your are angry address them names. Being moody in this letter is worthy because no one will ever see it. Burn the letter after it is finish. Doing this can get you popped on an worked up recovery
I Miss My Ex
By: Naomi | 07/01/2010One of the first steps to get over your ex-husband quickly is to publish a long letter to your ex. Be entirely responsible in this letter and tell your ex why you loved them. Tell them how you sense about breaking up and if your are angry call them names. Being sloppy in this letter is acceptable because it's yours only. Burn the letter after it is completed. Doing this can get you took off on an worked up recovery
Why Putting Other People First is Bad for Your Soul
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 24/01/2009 | Self ImprovementMost of us were taught that it is selfish to consider our own needs and desires. Praise is lavished on someone who gives up their life so another can live. It is time to change that mind set. Why is someone else's life more important or valuable than yours. In order for you to live a soulful life, that is, to live your life On Purpose as you Authentic Self, it is essential that you are centered in your Self and follow the whispers of your soul
Do You Feel Too Guilty to Say No?
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 19/01/2009 | Self ImprovementTo become your Authentic Self you must come to terms with what other people think about you. Overcoming guilt at not satisfying other's demands is a big shift in thinking based on how we were taught. This article offers support and encouragement for considering your own needs when responding to requests from others. Becoming free of unearned guilt liberates your heart and soul to live your life On Pupose as your Authentic Self.
Living a Joyful, Struggle-free Life: 3 Important Things to Know
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 17/01/2009 | Self ImprovementContrary to what most of us were told, life is intended to be Joyful and struggle-free. It was never meant to be a miserable existence. Learn 3 simple steps to having more joy and less struggle in your life.
Spiritual Growth Fast Track: Eliminating Judgment
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 15/01/2009 | Self ImprovementLearning to differentiate between judgment and evaluation is an essential skill in advancing on the path of spiritual growth. Judgment fosters feelings of anger, and powerlessness. Evaluation stirs compassion and a desire to take action to raise the situation to a higher level.
Spiritual Growth and the Gift of Confusion
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 14/01/2009 | Self ImprovementAnyone on the path of spiritual growth will occasionally encounter times of confusion as they gain more consciousness. This article shows how confusion is actually a higher state of consciousness than feeling secure in one's beliefs. The article offers 5 tips from moving through confusion quickly.
What is Spiritual Growth?
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 09/01/2009 | Self ImprovementSince much of the spiritual growth journey is experiential it can be hard to explain to family and friends why your spiritual growth is important to you. This article explains what spiritual growth is, the benefits of spiritual growth and why it is important.
Duty, Obligation and Commitment: Stepping Stones or Stumbling Blocks to Spiritual Awakening?
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 17/12/2008 | Self ImprovementIf you think fulfilling a duty, satisfying an obligation or keeping an outdated commitment makes you a "good person," think again. It makes you a compliant person whose life is governed by the people in your life. This makes it very hard for your soul to fulfill its mission and purpose.
3 Crucial Steps to Eliminating Debilitating Guilt and Liberating Your Authentic Self
By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc. | 15/12/2008 | Self ImprovementGuilt is an important emotion that helps you correct errors and live your life as your best self. But wearing a cloak of guilt when you have done nothing wrong is debilitating, useless, and downright destructive to living On Purpose as your Authentic Self.