As human beings, we are all composed of four bodies: physical,
emotional, mental, and spiritual. As such,
your spiritual body -
or spiritual aspect - is
integral to your overall balance and well-being.
(P.S. This isn't some airy-fairy definition I conjured up; even the
United States Army recognizes that we have these four aspects.)
Even I have difficulty defining the meaning of spirituality in intellectual terms. Why? First, though I am a true lover of words, spirituality is so integral to who we are as human beings that it
can sometimes be challenging for me to explain it in mere words. And second, on occasion I have trouble defining spirituality
because there is so much bullsh*t around it!
Seriously, so many people are either on the fundamentalist-ferry-
to-exclusion-island...or on the woo-woo-train-to-airy-fairy-land-
and-dysfunction-junction...that it can be difficult to wade through the poop to get to the truth.
Spirituality is quite simply,
your expression of your spirit. What is your spirit? It is the unique composition of energy that
is you and only you; no one else on the planet is quite like you.
Your spirit is also that which is
within you that guides you,
inspires you, enlightens you, and advises you.
Some call it the still small voice. Others call it their energy or essence. Some believe it is soul or self. There are lots of different descriptions and definitions that cut across all countries, cultures, and religions.
From my perspective
your spirit is your knowing and your being. That is, your spirit is the
certainty you possess
within your self and the
intimacy you possess
with your self.
Whether or not you believe your spirit is connected to others
and/or to a higher being - God, Jesus, the Buddha, Mohammed, Great Spirit, an energy source - is entirely up to you and does not make you any more, or any less, spiritual than anyone else.
Spirituality is not about religion. Religion can be a useful tool to
help you access your spirit. Religion can be a way for you to
express your spirituality. But, religion and spirituality are not
one in the same; religion falls under the larger "umbrella" of spirituality.
And spirituality is not about gadgets or gurus, new age or nirvana,
fundamentalism or airy-fairy. Those are the dysfunctional ways in
which some people hide from - or bypass - the reality of their life and use "spirituality" as a means to do so.
Of course, we are all free to experience, explore, and embrace
any of these options; after all, this life is our own unique journey. The key is to do so with consciousness, responsibility, and accountability.
Spirituality is not only how we
experience our spirit
within us,
it is also how we
express it in the
world around us.
So, how do you foster your spirituality? And, why does it matter?
You foster your spirituality by developing your inner knowing
(certainty) and your inner being (intimacy)...
every day. Essentially, you embark on a journey to become
more of you.
And then you express that "more" in the world around you.
Why does your spirituality matter?
Libya, Japan, global warming, social networking, addiction,
ADHD, Alzheimer's, antidepressants, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, money markets...and the list goes on.
Bottom line?
Unless you want to become a follower, you're going to need
some positive, powerful, and fool-proof tools to navigate our increasingly challenging, rapidly changing world...
every day.Your own spirit is your very best guide...in a very
uncertain world.
More next time...
(For more about the concepts in this message, go to "Why? Kelly Grace
Smith," "The Certainty of Intimacy: being more of you," "Energy: the
science & spirit of you" & "Mastery: the quantum path to your heart" at www.kellygracesmith.com.)
Copyright © 2011 kelly grace smith All rights reserved.
