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When The Spiritual Going Gets Tough

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When The Spiritual Going Gets Tough

As I’m sure you know, deciding to live on a conscious spiritual path has its challenges.

You’re typically going against the grain of mainstream thinking. This already sets you apart. You’re also very often choosing to live from a place of trust and faith. That is certainly not always easy.

You rely on invisible and unquantifiable sources. Your language becomes one of energetics and vibrational resonance. You have to deal with the scepticism of those who believe that we are purely a body and a mind. These mainstream thinkers certainly have a weight of evidence to prove that the material world is all there is.

The media, and society in general, often depicts you as being unrealistic, naïve, or just plain lazy! You can face a barrage of criticism for losing interest in the pushing, forcing and striving of the world. Even the family you grew up in may be the last place you can turn to for refuge. Especially if you no longer wish to play your role in the family in the way they expect and approve of.

The Point of it all

Add to this the core premise of the spiritual path. This core premise is about being able to see the value, lessons and gifts in every situation. This includes the life events we find deeply traumatic. For example, dealing with bereavement, rejection, serious health issues, or losing your home or source of income.

As we mature and deepen in awareness we’re called upon to turn inwards and rise above our protective ego’s reactions. This is not always easy to do, especially when we’re facing hardships or difficulties. So how do we deal with it when the going gets tough, sometimes too tough, for us to handle?

There isn’t always an easy answer

But there is definitely a willingness that’s needed. A willingness to trust in something greater than the self. The problem with that is, we’re dealing with an unseen force. This unseen force doesn’t always feel enough at those times when you just want simple solutions and easy answers. In those moments it can feel like you just want to go back to fitting in and courting the approval of mainstream thinkers. Yet this isn’t the point of the spiritual path.

The spiritual path teaches that you are perfect right now, right where you are. When someone rejects you or when your best efforts appear to go unnoticed by others you’re still perfect. You are perfect when you’ve lost your job, your home, your income, your health.

Staying in awareness

Even when nothing appears to be going right and synchronicities stop, you’re called on to try to stay in awareness.  If you’re struggling to breathe, so stressed are you, then the teaching is that there’s an awareness of that. If everyone is decrying you and telling you that you’re not good enough the same applies.

Staying in awareness applies even if you’ve hurt others – whether unintentionally, or intentionally. When the going gets tough that is meant to be our default response.

Staying in awareness allows us to observe our imperfections and neediness. It teaches us that we’re perfect just as we are. It allows us to stop looking to others to approve of us or validate us. It gives us space to see that we are good enough, even if others don’t agree.

Seeing the bigger picture

We come to know through this practice, that if others reject or attack us, then it is nothing but a mirror. It is a mirror for their own internal attacks and rejection. We know this is true. We can observe this truth in our own lives. It becomes crystal clear that when we attack or reject others, we’re attacking and rejecting some aspect of ourselves.

When the going gets tough and the tears flow, we’re to stay in this knowing. When fears arise, and doubts come; we are to look to our inner wisdom to point us back to truth and peacefulness. We’re more likely to find the right words in a challenging situation, or to connect with the right person. The words or the persons show up as beautiful reflections of our courage, strength and knowing. We can feel guided inwardly. Naturally finding our way back to our centre and to balance.

Self berating is not needed

There’s no need to berate ourselves if we’re not able to feel that inner guidance when the going gets tough. There’s no point in turning outer difficulties into inner judgement. We are to forgive ourselves and accept that that is just where we are right now.

We know from experience that once we’re consciously chosen our spiritual path, that there’s no turning back. There is only deepening and expansion and returning ourselves to love and awareness again and again.

I know the pains and pitfalls of this path only too well. If you’re struggling I see you. If you feel frustrated I hear you. I extend my love to you – wherever you are and whatever you’re experiencing.

If you were to multiply my intention by a billion, you still would not be able to imagine the love that you really are; or the greater love that is reaching out to you right now. Keep the faith.

Photo by William Farlow on Unsplash

The post When The Spiritual Going Gets Tough appeared first on The Good Men Project.


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