|
Individual
Growth Is Spiritual As Well, Not Just Bones And Muscles
We all grow naturally. Without much effort, we see bones develop
from infant stages into adult hood, from soft pliable material to hard matter.
We see muscles grow and we feel ourselves getting stronger with time. All of
this occurs naturally, as we eat, work, and play. But what does it take for us
to grow spiritually? Spiritual growth requires a conscious effort of
introspection and analysis.
If we want to grow spiritually, we need to be by turning our thoughts in instead
of out. Instead of focusing on what is around us, we need to examine our hearts.
Why do we do what we do? Why do we hang out with the people that we hang out
with? What are our good traits and how did we attain them? What are our bad
traits, and how can we get rid of them?
Introspection teaches us to consider how we act and it motivates us to change
how we behave on a daily and moment by moment basis. But introspection requires
great courage. Many people never look inward because they fear that they won't
like what they see, and ultimately they don't want to change what they see.
When you grow spiritually, you take hold of the potentials you've been given.
You consider what you can do, and you grow even more by reaching beyond what you
think you can do and thus developing more potential.
Science and religion have been at odds for decades now when examining the human
spirit. For example, religion sees human beings as just spiritual beings that
move on this planet momentarily, and science sees the spirit as just a part of
the whole individual. People grow spiritually when the recognize what they must
do enhance growth: their beliefs, morality, experience, and good works form the
foundation for spiritual growth. Ironically, the psychologist James Maslow
theorized that if a person can meet his physical needs, he can meet his
spiritual needs as well.
Ultimately, when we seek to grow spiritually, we seek meaning in our lives. And
that's where faith comes in. Religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
teach that their followers will find meaning through serving a higher being, a
Creator. And psychologists theorize that we find meaning through ourselves, that
we determine if we have meaning in our lives. But ultimately, finding meaning
means realizing that we live on this earth for a purpose, and once we realize
that, we put all of our desires and actions into focus with that purpose: we
live for that purpose.
Finally, growing spiritually means understanding our connection with the world
around us. Doing so will lead to a greater respect of the things and people
around us. And whether we find that connection through faith or psychology,
ultimately we grow spiritually because of that connection.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well
as spiritual christian gifts at http://www.spiritualchristiangifts.com
[ Home ] [ Up ]
|
Publishing & Consulting