There are so many people who are petrified of the confinement our city, state and federal leaders have mandated to contain the outbreak of coronavirus. The thought of living without the daily hustle and bustle is intimidating. This is not unexpected. We have grown so accustomed to filling our time with an endless bevy of activity that we lost our ability to differentiate between what we need and the superfluous.
I believe this new world reality caused by this viral outbreak, although scary, offers everyone a chance to reassess our lives and make some much-needed changes. We get many choices. We can spend our time assembling puzzles, binge-watching TV series or playing a zillion games of solitary on our I-phones. Or, we can take the time for self-reflection and take on habits beneficial to you that can enhance your level of consciousness.
Spirituality is not the same as religion
When I speak of developing a spiritual practice, I am not meaning for you to join an organized religion. Developing a spiritual practice is about taking time daily to stop the busy-ness of your life for a few moments so you can connect with that Higher Source that lives within you. This is an important quest, for doing so strengthens your belief in this Source, and you begin to recognize how it is at work in your life.
I meditate twice a day for twenty minutes each session using the Transcendental Meditation (TM) method, but there are many other ways to start a practice. Finding the one that works for you is the only discovery you need to make. What matters is that you attempt to learn to know this Greater Consciousness/God living within you in a way that gives your life more meaning.
People engage in all kinds of spiritual practices. Some use a daily time for traditional prayers, while others rely on a yoga regimen to relax their minds and make the connection I am talking about. It doesn’t matter what you do, God speaks to each individual in a way he/she can understand. You and your Higher Source will find the way as long as you try it.
Benefits of a daily spiritual practice
The best way for me to illustrate the benefits of embracing an effort to grow spiritually is to share what it has done for me. I live today with greater feelings of joy, gratitude, calm and inner peace. These qualities enable me to change my view of life and, like Dr. Wayne Dyer says;
“When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at begin to change.”
Life has totally changed because of my daily spiritual practice. My existence no longer seems like a listing of triumphs, failures, regrets and suffering. I see it for what it is, a long and winding road that has helped me evolve through a series of experiences and relationships. Everything that happened to me has become a blessing and every person, a teacher.
I have never been so grateful for my life, nor have I ever felt so comfortable inside my skin as I do today. The same can happen for you. You just need to commit to a time and method. You possess a lot more time in your hands today. What can it hurt to try?
Remember, paying gratitude for your life forward will reward you with much joy and contentment.
Photo by Yannic Läderach on Unsplash
