Spiritual evolution is a process that, like all evolution, is as complex as it is gradual. The goal to evolve is to create something better than it was. With any desire to improve, there is always a combination of growth and contraction. It’s an ongoing process. It does not end.
Improving your spiritual evolution or being further on your spiritual path takes time as well. For one thing, the person seeking to become more spiritual needs to go on a deliberate self-exploration journey. And in doing so, she or he becomes more spiritually aware.
How do I become more spiritually aware?
Many people have realized that we live on auto-pilot in this complicated and accelerated world. It’s hardly the answer to finding joy and fulfillment within. We now understand the importance of pausing or stopping to find meaningful ways to integrate present moment awareness into our overbooked life.
Becoming more spiritually aware is taking personal responsibility to be more conscious of your thoughts, words, and actions. It is a state of consciousness that, while not always easy to master, with intention and a strong desire to learn, it will eventually become a way of life that will benefit you and serve others as well.
If your goal is to become more aware, you first have to recognize what it means to have present moment awareness.
Present Moment Awareness is a term used sometimes interchangeably with being fully present or mindful. Eckhart Tolle, a contemporary spiritual teacher, who has written a modern classic, the Power of Now, instructs each of us on a path to spiritual enlightenment on how to be in the present moment. A still mind allows inner peace and spiritual transformation.
- What is it that I hope to achieve by becoming more spiritually conscious?
- Do I feel the need to understand myself better?
- Am I feeling the need to help grow and make a positive contribution to humanity?
- Have I been feeling that there is something more I need to accomplish in this lifetime, but I am having difficulty identifying what it is?
Questions like these and others that come instantly into your mind are clues that indicate an opportunity to practice present moment awareness.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist spiritual leader and peace activist shares the wisdom of his words with spiritual quotes on being in the present moment. After reading, pause, and reflect on each of these. What does each mean for you as you walk your spiritual path?
- If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply.
- With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present to touch the wonders of life that are available at that
- Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can better accept hardship today.
Living the moments of our daily life deeply with all its wonders allows us to face renewed hope each day. Whatever the challenge is today, there is always the hope that tomorrow will be better.
Become more spiritual every day
The world is asking each one of us at this time to shine our unique light. When we act on some of these fundamental spiritual principles and incorporate them into our lives, the rewards are infinite. By making some small but crucial spiritual lifestyle changes, we can live a life with more meaning and purpose.
Trust your intuition. It’s that inner knowing or inner guidance system that points you in one direction. It directs you to what you need to learn or know. Don’t overthink these thoughts that come in like a flash of insight or inspiration. Don’t judge them, but trust them; they are trying to tell you something. By frequently paying attention to these “intuitive hits,” you will feel more inspired, spiritually aware, and more awake.
Find time for being in solitude. Our days and lives are fast-paced and challenging. Distractions have become a part of how we live in today’s world. Find a simple space and place where you can be alone. It does not matter if it is just a short amount of time. If you can get out in nature, contemplate it and witness what it offers, you can better appreciate it as an opportunity for spiritual growth through the Divine’s connection.
Learn compassion for yourself and others as a state of being
We live today seemingly in a trance, moving from one task to another, from one distraction to another. And frequently, through what we sense and see, being in a race to live and have more has become a driving force that has us comparing ourselves to others.
Unfortunately, it has more people questioning what do we all need at this moment in time.
Caring and kindness for ourselves and all others are what we most need right now.
It’s no wonder that while comparing ourselves to others, what we most crave is energy, joy, compassion, and love. These ideals seem elusive.
We need to cultivate the skill to have more compassion for not only others but ourselves.
One of the finest minds in creating a compassionate mindset for ourselves and others is Tara Brach, Ph.D., www.tarabrach.com, beloved mediation, spiritual awakening, spiritual teacher, and author. Radical Compassion– Learning to love yourself and others through the practice of R.A.I.N. -R. (Recognize) A. (Allow) I. (Investigate) N. (Nurture).
The first chapter of her book is available to download for free, at her website, along with a generous offering of complimentary resources for the beginner or seasoned meditator.
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