\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. They begin in early childhood and continue through the senior years. If this is you, then carry on. Try to understand what goes on in their heads, what makes them happy, and what troubles them. Application Question: How can we allow the Spirit to strengthen us? Get together with a friend to pray, read the Bible and talk about your spiritual growth. Answer (1 of 25): > Make your own Bible. Try and tolerate that pain in the arse' work colleague, or the neighbour whose dog fouled your garden last week. It is not about the things that you do but instead about who you are. Turn off the 100-plus channel DirecTV or Roku box. Growing in maturity and discernment is the natural and right path. Try a conscious breathing exercise such as box breathing, and youll understand what he means. Try to meditate. How to Give Yourself a Spiritual Cleansing: Rituals, Meditation, & More, Why Do Christians Anoint with Oil? Copyright 2021. Before you know it, youll find yourself living more in the divine space of your heart and body, and less in the egoic space of your thinking mind. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Non-religious spiritual seekers use different words to describe a similar process. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. ", http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858, http://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/being-in-awe-can-expand-time-and-enhance-well-being.html#.WMq8smQrK2w, http://spirituality.ucla.edu/docs/newsletters/3/Paintner_Jan07.pdf, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104310443, https://jsr.shanti.virginia.edu/back-issues/vol-9-no-1-december-2010-the-fruits-of-scriptural-reasoning/the-goods-of-reading-theological-interpretation-and-scriptural-reasoning/, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good. These five concepts might honestly not make one damned bit of sense to you at all. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:15-16, NIV). Leave a few moments in your day to forget about to-do lists. Those who judge Christians are choosing to waste time judging a religious community. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. You can be thankful for them. Are you conscious of whether or not you are breathing deeply or shallowly? Take 10 minutes to calm your mind when you wake up. Let's take a closer look at the different ways how to grow spiritually: 1. This article has been viewed 88,998 times. For me, every year's end, I find myself wishing that I had spent more time with Jesus and making plans to be better in the new year. The spiritual nature of existence is not always apparent in our day to day activities. In essence, to be spiritual but not religious means to not participate in organized religion, but to still maintain some sort of practice of connecting with ones spirit. Explain how their actions have benefited you. You are giving yourself this space by meditating. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Take in great works of religious and secular art at museums. Mentor someone else to help them and yourself grow spiritually. When you open your eyes in the morning and turn off your alarm, thank God for another day. Both children raised with religion and those without can grow up to be moral people. Spirituality and science overlap in foundational ways to allow for the human experience to bond us in a collective experience. Idolatry is the worship of a false God. Take a dance class, or just put on music that makes you feel spiritual and try moving to it. This is one of the many reasons why we feel unexplainably dissatisfied: we have very little foundational knowledge for listening to our own inner guidance. However you can marry the two things together and raise your consciousness at the same time by thinking about your goals in short bursts and doing it often. Keep in mind, though, that this looks different for everyone. Brainstorm questions for spiritual growth. Get to know people. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6, NIV). Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Once upon a time, a wise person said, The truth shall set you free, but first, it'll make you mad.. You can do this in your normal day to day life with simple little things like opening a door to someone, letting someone out at a junction in rush hour traffic, give someone a hand in the workplace, buying your wife some flowers (got to watch this one as your wife might become suspicious that something you are up to something). Consider attending religious services at congregations other than your own. God (or whomever) loves you for however you choose to practice your faith. To do this, you might try journaling on self-reflective prompts (such as these), but its not necessary to use a prompt. Learn how you can know God personally. This content can be found in the Spiritual Growth section of Cru.org. Thich Nhat Hanh once said, Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Pray with others. Meditation may not have a formal place in your religion, but most religious people would agree that parts 2 and 3 of this article cover things essential for spiritual growth. ", How to Be Spiritual Without Being Religious, http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spirituality, http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/meditation-heals-body-and-mind, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-and-katherine-dreyer/walking-meditation_b_1790035.html, http://www.worldculture.org/articles/Unamuno%20Philosophy.pdf, http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/s_z/whitman/song.htm. Your life is exactly as it needs to be for your own spiritual growth. She now is a student of the Foundation of Shamanic Studies and is an active writer and explorer of diverse realities. But, when religion tries to control and do your thinking for you it's time to think for yourself. The Christian life is a relationship with God that develops over time. God begins the work in believers and will continue it. The essence of spirituality is that it happens here and now. In order to raise our consciousness, our thinking should not be stifled and diminished by dogmatic ways, mainly religion. Boredom and depression are far from merely childish demons, not least because an adult has to battle them for so much longer. When these 8 keys to spiritual growth are done consistently, intentionally, and heartfelt, they offer a powerful way to deepen your faith. If you enjoy any creative activity and almost all of us do, whether its drawing, writing, cooking, dancing, singing, playing music, or something else entirely you likely know just how it feels to get lost in your craft. I love to write, although other things are getting in the way of that just now I try and write a little each day and the fog around me just lifts while I am writing, I am in another place altogether and I feel much more positive and my spirits are lifted. This is a journey that lasts a lifetime lets journey together. Steven Aitchison is the author of The Belief Principle and an online trainer teaching personal development and online business. 1. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The time flies by, your creations seem to create themselves, and you feel a sense of joyful fulfillment the entire time. When you do this you are connecting with your higher consciousness and dropping out all the noise of life. Make a conscious effort to love the people around you, or at least tolerate them more Sometimes we forget to love the people around us such as family and friends. He has worked with organizations such as the American Management Association as a consultant for training courses on such topics as Mindful Leadership, Cultivating Awareness, and Understanding Wisdom: The Compassionate Principles of Work-Life Balance. Dont feel limited by the suggestions above. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. In this article, we'll show you how to connect deeply with your spirituality without subscribing to any particular faith or religion. I have read hundreds of books in my lifetime and the ones that got me really excited are the ones that have lifted my spirits and made me think about what life really is and how I can make it better for myself. If you stop growing in the knowledge of God and no longer allow the word of God to saturate your heart, your heart will become spiritually dry and hard. I'm talking about a period of time that is solely yours, one in which the the mental chatter shuts up. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Your intuition is your natural inner guidance system. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6, NIV). If you harbor ill feelings towards any group or individual, make an effort to get to know them as people. This is natural. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Expert Interview. Some studies show that children growing up in a faith community experiment less with drugs and alcohol and juvenile crime . The characteristics of spiritual maturity make you productive and effective in serving God. No couple just stumbles into spiritual growth. Get involved in your local union and help other workers in your field. The idea behind mindful movement, in this case, is to become aware of the way your body feels when you move it. Youve likely already read countless different articles telling you why practices X, Y, 41 Spiritual Wellness Activities to Uplift Your Mind, Body & Spirit, Trees have claimed such a centerpiece in world cultures that one central symbol, the Tree of Life, appears in ancient, 11 Things That The Tree of Life Represents. 1. There are those who also might receive physical therapy on a regular basis and get their bodywork in this way. It doesnt take a belief in a higher power to love oneself, to appreciate the magnificence of the human body, or to find beauty in nature. Bill became irreligious in youth then spiritual much later: My relationship with organized religion changed forever after being subjected to humiliation and mild electric shock ("all in fun . It's a daily exercise in finding faithone in which we are both teachers and students, givers and receiversthat allows us to live from a place of greater compassion for ourselves and others. Take a yoga and meditation course to attune your body and mind. For example, when you're sitting in traffic or on a bus, think about the person you want to be. Not only is the silence and tranquility of a forest, beach, or garden conducive to deep reflection; you may also find that a connection with the Earth, the trees, or the ocean can connect you to God, Source, the Universe, or whichever term you use for your higher power, if you so choose. Thats why Im excited to teach you six spiritual growth habits that will equip you to grow deeper and faster as a . Soken has over 25 years of Buddhist training experience and advises entrepreneurs, business owners, designers, and professionals. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. You can develop your relationship with your own spirituality by increasing your mindfulness, contemplating the natural world and works of art, and making things of beauty. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV). Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. They're simply offered in a spirit of gentleness. Desiring to obey God (John 14:15; James 1:19-25). Sit the hell down. Visit mosques, churches, temples, and other devotional sites known for their architecture, music, or devotional artworks. Start simple. In the act of creating, youve just connected yourself more deeply to your soul. For others, this could look like meditating and contemplating to draw on their own innate spiritual knowledge. The Holy Spirit teaches you to have the characteristics of spiritual maturity. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There is no doubt that you can get caught up in the stories involved in soaps and your mind, whether you realise it or not, is saying This is just a soap but it happens in real life', so now your mind has the belief that this is what life is really like and it can compound your belief that people are nasty, life can be shit and it doesn't do anything at all to lift your spirits it has the opposite effect. Heres a brief explanation of how reading books can change your brain and your body for the better. 2009 - 2023 MindBodyGreen LLC. Make friendly conversation with strangers you are seated next to, provided they seem interested in talking. A Personal Exploration )). Yes, there are those who remain steadfast in their own journey with God, Jesus, Yahweh, Muhammad, Buddha, a higher power or whatever they choose to seek beyond themselves. The Bible has a lot to say about what it looks like to grow spiritually. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Dedicating the first 10 minutes of each day just to being still and connecting with something greater than yourself is a way to do just that. When we spend less time inside our own heads we are raising our consciousness that little bit more and connecting with the energy that surrounds us and also raising the consciousness of others we love. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of Gods word all over again. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Grow-Spiritually-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Spiritually-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Grow-Spiritually-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid223534-v4-728px-Grow-Spiritually-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"