\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Return to it if you can. Learn how you can know God personally. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4, NIV). Find an authentic spiritual practice that resonates with you. Simply looking at birds in the park can be meditative activity. When you have faith in God, it will show itself in how you live your life (James 1:26). For those who seek some sort of spirituality, there are millions of people who talk about the benefits of meditation. Read the Bible; start with the book of John. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Yes, why not? See, closing your eyes for just a few minutes is doing something good for yourself. Can you be spiritual and not believe in God? Experiencing Christ with others can have important benefits. It's a process. You could ask: "How did you find meaning in your day to day life?". You are smart enough, Gen-Y, to make the choice for yourself. Don't be afraid to doubt, this means you are thinking. The box breathing exercise, in particular, has been scientifically proven to lower stress levels; practice it anytime your mind starts to race, and with time, youll likely find yourself better able to let those worrisome thoughts drift away again, just like clouds in the sky. At first, this might seem so hard to do because people are always on the move. Expert Interview. Music is a traditional form of devotional expression in many faith traditions, and is often a part of secular spirituality. If a work of art speaks to you, spend time contemplating it. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Here are three simple ways to grow spiritually in the new . While some appreciate a daily yoga practice, others receive better results from walking or weightlifting. You can also read spiritual books to absorb the wisdom passed down through the generations. Meditation may not have a formal place in your religion, but most religious people would agree that parts 2 and 3 of this article cover things essential for spiritual growth. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. All you do is sit quietly for 15 minutes per day, preferably at the same time every day, and quieten your thoughts. Spiritual folks define God by themselves and for themselves. Yes, there are those who remain steadfast in their own journey with God, Jesus, Yahweh, Muhammad, Buddha, a higher power or whatever they choose to seek beyond themselves. You can do this in your normal day to day life with simple little things like opening a door to someone, letting someone out at a junction in rush hour traffic, give someone a hand in the workplace, buying your wife some flowers (got to watch this one as your wife might become suspicious that something you are up to something). In fact, studies show that religious belief is tied to more authoritarian or controlling parenting styles,. On the other hand, your beliefs of God may fall outside of the scope of any religious definition, and thats completely valid, as well. Additionally, there are plenty of ways for you to connect to your spiritual side without going to a place of worship or reading the Bible. At first, this might seem so hard to do because people are always on the. The time flies by, your creations seem to create themselves, and you feel a sense of joyful fulfillment the entire time. Take note as well of the good feeling you get from doing good for others. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. So, I want to present five concepts that might form a tapestry of Gen-Y spirituality. Spiritual life begins with a suspicion that the answer to such questions could well be "yes." And a true spiritual practitioner is someone who has discovered that it is possible to be at ease in the world for no reason, if only for a few moments at a time, and that such ease is synonymous with transcending the apparent boundaries of the self. "Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. Non-religious spiritual seekers use different words to describe a similar process. No couple just stumbles into spiritual growth. The scientific answer is a resounding yes., Reading books benefits both your physical and mental health, and those benefits can last a lifetime. Each day is an opportunity to grow in the knowledge of God. So, sit. Peter, one of Jesuss closest followers during the time He was on earth, encourages us this way: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18, New International Version). This follows from the above point. It doesnt take a belief in a higher power to love oneself, to appreciate the magnificence of the human body, or to find beauty in nature. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. It's a chance for you to have a conversation with God. Gods will is for you to grow to maturity, living as a fully devoted, fully functioning, full court follower of Jesus Christ. Are you able to take deep breaths? Winter/Spring 2010. Grow spiritually by increasing your mindfulness and detaching from the worries of your daily life. Hit up a yoga class. Truth is found in Gods Word, which corrects, trains and challenges us. In this article, lets see what it may look like for you to be spiritual, but not religious. Idolatry is the worship of a false God. Grab those running shoes, and get the heart rate up. Many spiritual people feel most at one with their idea of God when theyre immersed in nature. 19 May 2019. I love this quote from Lori Deschene of Tiny Buddha. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Where do you believe your thoughts and deepest desires come from? To do this, you might try journaling on self-reflective prompts (such as these), but its not necessary to use a prompt. "This article helped me deeply by helping me remember things that I already enjoy doing and somehow I forgot or I. Many Millennials may not follow their parents' steps along religious or spiritual paths. 3 Foolproof Ways To Make Any Good Habit (That Actually Stick), What Is Spirituality? Think or journal on any of these questions which resonate: Remember, as you contemplate, to focus on what you feel, rather than what youve been told to believe. Ultimately, this is a practice that is totally up to you in how it looks. writing by wikiHow, my faith has been restored again. Self-knowledge is a process, so don't be discouraged if you don't feel spiritually aware immediately. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Spiritual growth is the journey of growing in faith to know more about God and become the person that He created you to be. You might meditate. Turn off the 100-plus channel DirecTV or Roku box. Meditation does involve your body, mind and spirit. They're simply offered in a spirit of gentleness. Boredom and depression are far from merely childish demons, not least because an adult has to battle them for so much longer. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. 1 Make time for daily prayer. Understand and experience living in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many different spiritual practices out there, so find one that you feel drawn to and that you can commit to. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:15-16, NIV). There is a power that keeps everything in its place and fuses everything. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Dont feel limited by the suggestions above. There are lots of little things you can do every day to bring you into a spiritual place. For me, every year's end, I find myself wishing that I had spent more time with Jesus and making plans to be better in the new year. Once an individual accepts and receives new truth within themselves, something deep inside begins to shift and change. Here are five simple ways to live a more spiritual existence, regardless of your religious beliefs: We have the power to focus our thoughts in a positive directionpositive for ourselves, for others, and for the world. We need you. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. These are not etched in stone or thou shalts one bit. We push ourselves through most of our days ignoring our bodies, but when we are fully in and aware of our bodies (rather than trapped inside our minds), were more in touch with Spirit. It's grounded and rooted in the concrete realities of life and expressed through ritual acts. Jesus explains the meaning of the story this way: The one who hears the Word of God and understands it is the one who grows in their faith (v. 23). I love to write, although other things are getting in the way of that just now I try and write a little each day and the fog around me just lifts while I am writing, I am in another place altogether and I feel much more positive and my spirits are lifted. How to Give Yourself a Spiritual Cleansing: Rituals, Meditation, & More, Why Do Christians Anoint with Oil? I'm talking about a period of time that is solely yours, one in which the the mental chatter shuts up. An Astrologer Weighs In, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Intentionality has turned into a bit of a buzzword, but intentionality is exactly what you need to grow spiritually as a couple. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV). Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Some of you will be thinking the force I am talking about is God; no, the force I am talking about is not governed by laws and dogma, it is created and enhanced by the energy of everybody around us and raising our consciousness can make this force and energy flow quicker. I hear a lot of people saying they don't have time to sit quietly for 15 minutes, you know this is not true, everybody can make 15 minutes for themselves. Those who arent sure about their beliefs, or who dont believe in God, full stop, may still enjoy a rich spiritual practice via connecting with their body, or with nature or by engaging in a myriad of other spiritual activities. In essence, to be spiritual but not religious means to not participate in organized religion, but to still maintain some sort of practice of connecting with ones spirit. Well, my definition of spiritual is; We are all connected in some way by an invisible, energetic force. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Food pantries, mental health clinics, and community centers are all places that need help as well. We are embodied spirits, and the doorways to our hearts and minds are our senses. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Active spiritual growth is usually visible, and there are several things that make it evident: A desire to spend time with God to learn more about Him (2 Peter 3:18). Amazon disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find a role model who embodies spirituality according to your own terms and study his or her ways of being in this world, but always remain yourself. God's plan is for my daily life to be given . "((^Royal College of Psychiatrists: What Is Spirituality? Take camping trips to have longer periods out in the wilderness. If you do this every day I can guarantee you, you will feel like a different person after a few weeks. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Its one hundred percent possible to have a thriving personal spiritual practice, even if you dont call yourself a Christian, or go to a temple, or read a particular religious text. Feel grateful to them for letting you participate in their lives. The characteristics of spiritual maturity make you productive and effective in serving God. Sometimes it's easy to hyper-focus on your problems in prayer and forget to thank Him as well. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night. 19 May 2019. Application Question: How can we allow the Spirit to strengthen us? For more tips, including how to cultivate a greater sense of empathy, read on! In the act of creating, youve just connected yourself more deeply to your soul. We need ritual. This can happen through prayer or meditation, or through taking part in religious meetings, listening to spiritual music or even walking outside. You might simply listen to some peaceful music and bliss out. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. ", http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858, http://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/being-in-awe-can-expand-time-and-enhance-well-being.html#.WMq8smQrK2w, http://spirituality.ucla.edu/docs/newsletters/3/Paintner_Jan07.pdf, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104310443, https://jsr.shanti.virginia.edu/back-issues/vol-9-no-1-december-2010-the-fruits-of-scriptural-reasoning/the-goods-of-reading-theological-interpretation-and-scriptural-reasoning/, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good. Christian community can support your spiritual growth qualifying purchases are far from merely childish demons, not because. Philosophy from the Universit catholique de Louvain in faith to know Jesus on... Enough, Gen-Y, to make any good Habit ( that Actually Stick,! 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