Spirituality and Solitude

Practices that lead to spiritual well being are often mired in solitude. It is important to be comfortable in your own skin, to love yourself, if you are to become a more spiritual person. Being spiritual does not mean being religious. Spirituality cares nothing for traditions and customs prescribed centuries ago to appease gods and goddesses of lore. Spirituality seeks to connect you with your own higher self. To help you realize that everything that you are hunting for in this world, is already a part of you.

Why do you need solitude to experience your spiritual self?

The decisions you take through the day are based on logic, scientific reasoning and calculated risks. This material aspect of your lives needs inputs from external sources. You speak with all manners of people, family members, friends, colleagues, and even some whom you may not necessarily like for these inputs. It usually centers on your financial goals and involves doing better than the others around you.

Your spiritual self is not in the picture at all. In fact it is so deep in hiding that even when you wish for some sane advice from it, you can’t reach it amongst the chaos of your daily life. To be able to listen to that soft spoken, polite and well meaning spiritual self you need more than silence around you. You need peace of mind and that can only be achieved when your mind is not constantly looking for other people it can engage with. It can only happen when you are all by yourself.

Looking within can be uncomfortable and scary!

When you begin looking within yourself rather than relying on external inputs, you may initially be at a loss. You won’t know how to proceed with having a conversation with yourself. It can feel foolish asking yourself a question and expecting yourself to reply. Then the replies start coming, but they are not from the spiritual self which is shy, but from the more brazen ego.  The messages from the ego are never loving and definitely never spiritual.

It can be frightening to find such strong negative emotions flowing out from within you. You will be seriously tempted to break off with the self exploratory solitude, but you must persist for it is only when you can silence the ego, will you be able to pay attention to your true self. It is only when the negativity has had its say and been flushed out that the spiritual self will come out to play. Tentatively at first, and then with greater confidence you will be able to connect with your inner spirituality.

How does being spiritual help?

Spirituality believes in PIF (Pay It Forward). Doing random deeds of kindness to help someone in need is a great way of sending out a message to the universe that you are open to helping others and receiving help. Paying for an extra cup of coffee for someone who can’t afford it, paying the car toll for the vehicle behind you on the toll plaza, or just helping someone carry their bags can be simple acts of kindness which you can do.

The idea is that when you affirm, “I will help all who I can today”, the Law of Attraction immediately responds with “You will be helped by all who can today.” So be spiritual, do random acts of kindness and know in your heart that you are paying it forward. Trust in the quick response of the universe when you are in need of help the next time. That’s why getting in touch with your spiritual self is so important.