Spirituality is an inside job

Spirituality is an inside job

What does that mean for you?

• Are you willing and ready to embark on your own Spiritual journey?
• Are you willing and ready to shift into your Spiritual mind? (We all have one)
• And what does embarking on a Spiritual journey really mean?

A Spiritual journey is a willingness to turn away from the expectations of the outer world and the fears, anger and guilt’s that go along with it and be willing to go inward for some good old self-discovery, personal growth and transformation.

I’ve spoken and written about Spirituality and our core values before – a few months ago in fact – click if you want to dive into that previous blog post or get a refresher

Setting our core values is a hugely beneficial first step and it requires us to open our hearts and open our minds to get to those deepest values within us that are truly important to us.

However…

This week it is different.

It is one thing to have the knowledge that facilitates self-discovery, personal growth and transformation, but it is an entirely different experience when you are willing to put that knowledge into practice and right-action.

Everyone embarks on a Spiritual Journey for different reasons. Some people live out their entire life without any desire to search for deeper meaning to their life. What they see is what they get.

We have all made mistakes. We have all been a victim of someone else’s mistakes. We all have a story that our ego loves to tell (or hates to tell) either way it is telling.

Some people want to desperately change their story and others are comfortable living the dysfunction they know.

Chances are if you read my blog posts on a regular basis or have been somehow drawn to it today – then you have a desire to tell a different story at least in some area of your life.

Spirituality begins in the mind

You have an ego mind and you have a spiritual mind.

Your mind can be your best friend and it can be your worst enemy. When your ego is running the show and stuck in the story, the drama, the mistake, the anger, the past, the future, the sadness or the problem – you are witnessing your worst enemy. If you can see that – then you have the ability to go beyond it.

Be willing to shift your perspective. Use the mind to go beyond the mind. Open your mind to an expanded way of seeing your story and any problems that arise. This is not an easy practice – but it is a practice that will help you shift into right-focus, right-effort and then take right-action (the benefits are unlimited!)

First off – understand that there is another side to your mind. A Spiritual side. This side of your mind – is your friend. This side of your mind has a vehicle you can use to navigate your way out of the chaos and the confusion of your ego mind and the world you see around you.

When you consciously shift into this side – this energy – you consciously shift into the present moment. Putting your hand onto your heart and breathing deeply into your heart will shift you immediately into this space. Then it is up to you whether you stay in this space where solutions arise or go back to the space of confusion.

One would think most minds would like to stay in this present moment space, but the truth is many minds prefer the comfort of the known even if the known is the dysfunction of the chaos and confusion.

Why?

Because it is familiar.

Familiar in many cases feels easier – but in the long run it causes so much turmoil. Most minds have been taught to try and figure out the solutions in this state of chaos and confusion. It is absolutely counter-productive – yet…we all do it.

Consciously shifting into the present moment and right-focus requires discipline of the mind and the ego mind is terribly undisciplined. The ego mind is easily swept away, back into the story, back to the emotions and back to the problem.

To train our mind to go beyond our ego mind and into the territory of our expanded solution-orientated Spiritual mind – we need to commit to daily practices of mindfulness. (I have also written a blog on mindful awareness…click here to find out how to practice mindful awareness in your day)

We primarily live in our ego mind – it keeps us in survival mode in a world that can appear scary and unpredictable. As I stated in the above video – having clear core values helps us when we lose our way in this world. It grounds us and helps us out of our confusion.

We all lose our way at some point on this human journey. Some people live their whole life in the ego brain. Some people live the majority of their life there with a few “spiritual” experiences.

We all have an ego. We need our ego. The spiritual journey is about becoming friends with the ego. Work with your ego mind to get past the fears, anger, stories and confusion. Shift into the spirit mind – your right-mind, where perspectives change, solutions reside and where you discover your true-self.

In the spiritual mind you grow as a human being, you transform every day obstacles into opportunities and you are able to see the bigger picture.

This is why you need solid core values!

Your core values allow you to live and survive in this human experience with integrity and resilience. They bring you back to your center, your truth, your goodness and the present moment when your ego mind gets loud, dangerously fearful and compromises your good-judgement.

Remembering in a split-second one of your core values allow you to go from the problem into the right-focus of the present moment and into right-effort awareness of choosing a different energy, so we can take right-action.

For example;  say you have a core value of “healthy body” and your ego mind is in a state of procrastination with so many great excuses as to why you can’t exercise or do the yoga class or choose the healthier snack…slowing down, putting your hand onto your heart & breathing deeply to come into the present moment is where you remind yourself of your core value. This simple practice brings you back into alignment with this core value – a value that you created. A value that signifies how you want to be, do and live.

This practice takes only a few minutes. It shifts you out of procrastination and into action – back to your truth.  The thing is – you have to practice it. You have to let yourself fail. You have to keep getting back up.

So of course this takes time, patience with yourself, the practice and disciplining your mind to focus, shift and then take right-action to align with your core values.

The ego mind will NOT do this.

The Spiritual mind will.

So it is important to get to know your Spiritual mind.

Here are 8 practices to help you get in touch with your Spiritual mind;

1. Daily (non-negotiable) meditation practice
2. Open your mind – be curious, observant and non-judgemental.
3. Open your heart – be grateful, helpful and forgiving.
4. Connect with nature daily.
5. Take care of yourself.
6. Feel your feelings.
7. See the good all-around you – look for signs & synchronicities everyday – they are everywhere!
8. Know and align with your core values every single day!

Get in touch with your Spiritual mind, live your core values and take the time every day to discipline your mind to get beyond the ego mind. This will put you on the Spiritual path. A path to discovering who you are at the core of our being, a path to your authentic goodness, a path to transformation, a path to living this lifetime with peace – no matter what chaos this earth schools throws at you.

This Week’s Intention

1. Get in touch with your Spiritual mind.
2. Meditate daily.
3. Mindfully practice throughout your day coming into the present moment.
4. Know your core values. Live them, breathe them, align with them and BE them.

Be willing to step into a whole new understanding of yourself, your inner strength and your resilience.

Namaste my Spiritual friends;

Leslie

Contact me at leslie@wellnessdefined.ca for information regarding private sessions or to try a free class or two.