Last week I overheard a group of woman speaking that were sitting near me in a restaurant. Throughout the conversation they kept talking about spirituality and how "spiritual" this person was, or how "connected he is to his "spiritual" side and that's really hard to find in a man these days." And, "She could use a dose of "spiritual" awakening to help her change her ways." After a while I found myself laughing inside because I wanted to walk up to them and say, "If you're so spiritual why are you judging all these people about their own spirituality?" I figured since I was eavesdropping and that probably wasn't very "spiritual" of me, I'd be better off keeping my thoughts to myself.
It's interesting to me how we define spirituality and I have to admit, I've caught myself putting a particular definition on it many times over throughout my own personal growth. (I wanted to say spiritual growth but thought better of it.) As I think about spirituality it seems that many people define it by our state of Being. If we're balanced, happy, calm or peaceful we're being spiritual. If we're upset, angry or resistant we're not being spiritual. I no longer believe this.
Spirituality is not something that is static and always in balance. We are Spirits with a physical body. And as we move through this life we will experience all sorts of emotions and although we may feel out of balance at times, it really can be to our advantage by allowing us to keep expanding our sense of Self in a world that is ever-changing.
Some people may be further along on their spiritual path than others, but we are all on a spiritual path and doing the absolute best that we know how. When some people seem out of balance or unhappy don't assume they're not spiritual. Perhaps they are experiencing a resistance around growth and change and there may be a sense of loss and fear of the unknown that brings up these feelings. This does not make one person less spiritual than another. As people integrate their experiences over time they will discover what they need, in order to move into a more balanced state putting them one step further along their spiritual path bringing them more balance and greater joy for the time being.
For those of you who are more "spiritually enlightened" than someone else you may know, make it your job to find compassion for what he or she may not understand that you understand that brings you your balance and peace. See where you can expand your Self even more and move further along your path without making a judgment where someone else is on his or her path.
Awaken The Genie Within™
