Here's What They Won't Tell You About Spirituality

You're already doing it.

Isn’t that sunset so incredibly beautiful? I took this photo on Saturday, and haven’t stopped staring at it since. Sunsets have always been something I’ve admired my entire life. I’m in awe every single time, and I never knew why. At some point, the “why” stopped mattering. Who cares why? Honor the feeling, and embrace it.

What’s interesting is a friend recently asked me if I’d ever heard of Egyptian Sun Gazing. I hadn’t, so I googled, and sure enough, it’s an ancient practice the Egyptians did that involved staring straight at the sun either during sunrise or sunset on a consistent basis to achieve numerous health and wellness benefits. I was already doing it without knowing I was doing it.

And that’s likely the case for you with your spiritual practice.

I’ve found that a lot of people get overwhelmed and intimidated by “spirituality.” I put that in quotes, because everyone has their own picture of what that looks like and what it means. For many, it’s imagining yourself meditating on a mountaintop for an hour at dawn, with crystals surrounding you, and the birds chirping alongside of you, and the trees whispering your name, all while you’re zen AF in a boho chic outfit wrapped with mala beads.

That’s very predictable and cute, but not usually the case.

Something I wish someone told me years ago is that your spiritual practice is completely yours, and no one else’s, so you get to decide what that looks like for you, and chances are, you’re already doing it without realizing it.

I believe spirituality is ultimately rooted in tapping back into yourself, so whatever activities or rituals help achieve that are part of your practice—painting, reading, gardening, hiking, yoga, writing…the list goes on. Take note of when you feel most at peace, what fuels your energy, and revitalizes you. As long as it is feeding your soul and replenishing your spirit, it’s doing its job. And if you’re paying attention to the messages that come up during those moments, even better. But the important part is continuing to do these things as much as possible, because a starved soul will have you settling for whatever you can get.

None of us want that.

If you find yourself worrying more about making sure you’re doing what you’re “supposed” to do, and then feeling like an imposter posing as a spiritual person, pause. Take a deep breath. And let that go. You are a spiritual being having a human experience, regardless of what you do or don’t do.

We all got to this moment in different ways, yet we ended up in the same place. Understand that your spiritual journey will also vary, because your path was given to you, and you only, so it will have different roads, different views, different experiences, and different pit stops along the way. Never lose faith in the direction that you’re being pulled to. Believe in yourself. Believe in the guidance that you’re receiving (and you are receiving guidance, every moment of every day).

After all, your strongest and most trusted compass is within you, and you alone. Where’s it telling you to go?