Simple Spiritual Advice I Wish I’d Known 15 Years Ago
5 tiny habits to spark your spiritual progress.
Once an enlightened master said,
“There are 8 billion people on this Earth. And there are 8 billion ways to reach divinity.”
Everyone has a unique path. But most people follow a set of rituals or practices.
Without guidance, everybody feels lost.
I have been a spiritual seeker for as long as I can remember. But without clear directions, I was just bumping into every turn.
I was a loser who knew her goal but had no direction for nearly fifteen years. All I had? A passionate desire to know the God.
But after my awakening, I now know spirituality is pretty simple.
Like most things, we overcomplicate everything, which makes things difficult. So, if I were to start all over again tomorrow, I’d follow this simple advice.
1. Your desire to explore ‘more’ is the foundation of spiritual progress.
Strong emotional desire fuels your efforts.
Without a desire, all your self-work would be conditional. You’ll only put effort if you like to do it.
Side hustling with spirituality doesn’t work. You have to go all in. And the biggest push to do so is your desire to know more.
Also, I have seen people putting their thirst on the back burner. Why? Because of the fear that the world would label them as insane.
Don’t let this society tell you what you should want or not.
The simple solution (not easy) is to make your own way.
Spirituality calls only the daring people, not cowards who like being in messy crowds. Be a lion in the chaos of sheep.
Don’t hold back your desire, thinking it is irrelevant. Because when your spiritual progress becomes your priority, life will help you in crazy ways.
The magic starts when you pass the tests of life to show how dedicated you are to yourself. To show how much you seek ‘you.’
It all begins with your desire. This powerful push helps you —
- To do the unthinkable and go against the sleeping masses.
- Create a bubble around you and protect it until you reach your goal.
2. Your genuine efforts attract genuine mentors.
Whether you believe it or not, genuine guidance is the greatest blessing in your spiritual path.
I’ve seen people getting stuck with fake gurus and insane belief systems in the name of spirituality. Spirituality has become a mockery these days.
Earlier, I used to be very sad about this. I’d often wonder, “Why do people not reach the genuine guru when they are openly present nowadays?”
But I realized it is because people are not genuine toward themselves.
In the name of spirituality, they want some magic or mysticism. They want to attract or heal, or they want some stupid show in the name of spirituality. It is like entertainment.
These are the extremely superficial aspects of spirituality.
If you really want to know the highest truth of life, remaining genuine to it goes a long way.
Your authenticity attracts genuine guidance.
Otherwise, you may drop down a rabbit hole of endless spiritual entertainment.
3. There are no mistakes.
Many people ask me, “What is my perfect path? I don’t want to commit mistakes and want to reach as soon as possible.”
Well, there is no perfect path. And there is no sooner.
The spiritual path is unknown. Nobody can tell you with perfection. But you can make it perfect by practicing.
Perfection happens when you fail more times than you can count.
You may slip into unconscious reactions when emotions overwhelm you. You may sink into a toxic relationship. You may find yourself in a chaotic environment.
The thing is that you can’t save yourself. You can’t be perfect. You will fall many times.
Don’t label them as your mistakes. They are your invaluable lessons.
Each lesson unfolds a new learning. Intelligent seekers learn from a bad episode of life and move on to the next.
4. Learn from your day-to-day interactions.
Only 15% of the 8 billion population are actually self-aware.
More senseless people surround us than we would like to admit. And we are also one of them trying to be conscious.
When you interact with the majority, they throw their mindless reactions at you. It can be jealousy, comparison, hurt, anger, or just anything.
You may judge them, escape them, or become vengeful. They may ruin your day in a million ways.
OR
You can use them to judge your consciousness levels.
These unconscious people are like a compass that can show you the direction of self-work. They highlight your path and your shortcomings.
Earlier, I also used to curse when I was surrounded by these non-spiritual people. Slowly, I realized how important they are in one’s journey. They pushed me more on my spiritual path.
They still surround me. Now I enjoy their company. Their conversations tell me more about human psychology than any book can.
Use your daily interactions in your spiritual path. Instead of blaming them, see your unconscious reactions steaming up.
Use it as your north star and progress on your spiritual path.
5. Emotional turmoils are your best friends.
Sadness, grief, hurt, anger, frustration, and fear are not your enemies.
You may not like them and even protect yourself from these uncomfortable situations. But the truth is, you’re never safe enough. They will hijack your mental peace and create havoc and instability.
Running away from them is not the solution.
The truth is that spirituality and emotional health have a symbiotic relationship.
It is magical when you realize your emotions are your biggest friends in your spiritual path. And also, spirituality frees you from emotional distress.
How?
Imagine something happens, and you get angry.
Now, why do you get angry? Is it because someone said/did anything inappropriate? Or was it because you had a low threshold of anger?
The truth is, you can only get angry when you have anger within.
Suppose you have nothing to defend. Will you get angry? No. Right!
It can only happen once you empty your emotional baggage.
Your emotions have no intention to make you upset or bother you. But they come to get released from your jail. You have suppressed your feelings for lifetimes. They come because they want to be free from you.
It doesn’t mean you smash someone’s head with a brick. No!
It means you must be aware of your emotions and let them out alone in a private space. Use your creativity to express it. Don’t lock your emotions within. Give them a space to let go.
And slowly, you'll find a renewed sense of peace within you.
Final Thoughts
You lose the race of spirituality because you’re trying to win.
Spirituality is not about winning or failure. It is about enjoying the process of learning or unlearning.
It is not about doing the right things. It is about failing more times than you can count and still doing it. The tiny, invisible dents make a huge impact on your progress.
Spirituality is simple. Don’t overcomplicate it with theories or fancy names.
It is about being conscious and authentic. Get back to the roots of your being. Your entire life is screaming for it.
Don’t delay. The best time to reach your highest self starts ‘Now.’
