What it Really Means to Be Spiritual: 5 Practices to Enhance Awareness and Live Fiercely
My spiritual journey started the day I decided that religion wasn’t floating my boat.
Too much right and wrong. Too much talk about things other than love, which is how I felt any kind of spiritual practice should go. I remember going to church to make my family happy. I remember sitting there feeling stiff, awkward, and forced to be there. I wasn’t there for me, I was following someone else’s rules and obeying them in the name of being a good girl. It didn’t last long. What I began to do instead is to create awareness around things like gratitude, love, positivity, possibility, feeling, and intuition. That was my spiritual practice.
If I had my way we’d get rid of the labels and rules altogether and live in the practice of awareness.
Feeling is healing, as well as the foundation for a spiritual practice and living the life you desire. You don’t need to practice anything but awareness to have a great, happy life.
According to an online definition, spiritual means you’re relating to the human spirit or soul instead of material things. It doesn’t say anything about not desiring some of those things. It says, “relating to.”
Definitions, like labels, limit us. They give people ways to measure rightness. They give people ways to decide if something is good or bad. When you love what is, however it’s presenting, and respond to the moment without attaching to it, that’s badass. Spiritual or not, you’re going to be living in a way joy, love and gratitude pour in. And who doesn’t want more of those things?
Labels, rules, and definitions are great for creating laws that keep us safe.
Outside of that zone, they tend to feel constricting. Especially for those of us who were taught the right, perfect way to be. Being “spiritual” is just another way to judge someone. It’s another way to label people and compartmentalize them. “He’s not religious, he’s spiritual,” I hear a lot. Okay, so instead of following the rules of one group, he follows the rules of another.
As soon as you think you’re right and someone else is wrong, it’s a moment to wake up and practice awareness so you can transcend the labels. As soon as you feel better than someone else it’s a moment to wake up to this. As soon as you judge someone and make a decision about them based on that judgment you have another opportunity to wake up and reflect about why you’re making those judgments. As soon as you stop being curious and start being right is another opportunity.
The foundation for a spiritual life is awareness. Here are a few more practices that enhance awareness, and a life lived fiercely alive:
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Gratitude.
Think it, believe it, be it. There is no more magical or spiritual practice than this. No matter what situation you find yourself in, there’s always something to be grateful for and when you align with gratitude, you’re aligning with a powerful spiritual tool.
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Love.
Think it, believe in it, be it. There is possibly no more powerful or spiritual practice than this alongside gratitude. They may be tied at the top of the list. With love, all things are possible.
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Positivity.
Think it, believe in it, be it. When you’re moving through life in positivity, your focus, mindset, and attention are with things like love, gratitude, and possibility. A positive attitude is the foundation for hope, happiness, and manifestation.
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Feeling.
Feeling is healing. Without it, awareness is impossible. With it, we have a choice to respond to life instead of reacting to it. Because it’s a feeling we desire (to be happy, to be joyful, to be loved, to be fulfilled and purposeful) we need to understand what brings us those feelings. Living a spiritual life means you’re practicing feeling.
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Intuition.
The idea that you have the answers to everything you need is a powerful spiritual practice. It includes a practice of stillness, of listening to your inner wisdom and voice and of knowing what feels good to your soul. Connecting with and learning the language of your intuition will be one of the most important things you do on the journey to spirituality.
Of course, there are many more spiritual practices that guide people on this journey of life. These are some simple go-to’s, to begin with. I invite you to add some of your favorites in the comments. What are some of the other practices you’ve enjoyed that bring you closer to feeling alive, joyful and fulfilled?
What does it mean to you, to be spiritual?
Please share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!
– Laura
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Laura Di Franco, MPT is an intuitive writing strategist, holistic physical therapist, published author, poet and third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do with over two decades of experience in healing. She teaches transformational tools and powerful strategy for nourishing and inspiring your fiercely alive whole self. Learn more about Laura on her website.
