In today’s age, it seems plenty of people throw around the word spirituality, especially when taking a look at younger generations. By now, many of us have heard the phrase: “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.”
Despite a general lack of assigned religion, the younger generation feels a strong sense of spiritual peace, well-being, and gratitude.
But what does spirituality truly mean, then? The Oxford Dictionary describes it as: “of or relating to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature:”
Of course, spirituality will take on different meanings depending on who you’re talking to. Perhaps spirituality can mean looking at the larger picture and asking bigger questions in life, such as: what is my purpose? How can I serve the greater good? How do I attain inner personal peace? How do I overcome negative emotions and obstacles?
One can look at spirituality very much like a mountain summit in which each person takes a different path to the top, but all arrive at the same destination in the end. While millions of people continue to find answers to life’s most difficult questions through traditional religious practice and prayer, others have taken new approaches, fusing ancient spiritual customs from different faiths into their modern lifestyles. As global communities interact more and more with one another, new practices emerge, giving birth to a glorious blend of spirituality from around the globe.
Finding answers to the big questions is no easy task. Daily spiritual practices may not provide the explanations we want in the moment, right now, or even ever. Still, daily spiritual practice has many positive benefits on health and wellbeing. Small, everyday rituals can provide comfort, create better lifestyle habits, and set positive intentions while also slowly uncovering one’s deeper purpose.
Start the Day With a Short Meditation or Prayer
Many successful people begin their day with meditation or prayer. Whether this means reciting a prayer, practicing a quiet moment of mindfulness, or listening to a guided meditation, setting aside a few minutes in the morning to connect with ourselves and set positive intentions can encourage peaceful, grateful thoughts for a successful day.
Take short spiritual breaks throughout the day
Regular breaks throughout the day can help improve both mental and physical health, as well as improve your performance at work. They also provide an opportunity to have a short, calming meditation or prayer. That can mean a simple yoga stretch with deep breathing or sitting outside of the office in the sunshine for five minutes or so.
Consume spiritual content
These days, you can grow up anywhere in the world and have access to ancient spiritual wisdom from the likes of Tibetan monks. Reading books, listening to podcasts, or tuning into live prayer introduces you to new spiritual practices and ways of thinking.
For example, John de Ruiter is a spiritual mentor and author based out of Edmonton, Canada, who provides his teachings both in book and audio format.
Or, perhaps you’d consider a book with an anonymous author? Such as the The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Either way, consuming these materials can make for a great way to expand your spiritual vision.
Have patience, and dedicate yourself to finding your own path
Everyone has a busy schedule these days, but as the Zen saying goes: “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day, unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” That could very well be frustrating at first, but it doesn’t have to be taken quite so literally at all. You could instead do something that’s easier for you that you can work on little by little. Dedicating time to spirituality may not feel easy at first, but you can do it.
