Article first published in Enigma Magazine (www.enigma-mag.com), published in PS Magazine with permission of author.

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear self-proclaimed atheists cry: “Oh My God!” in moments of terrible fear and great pleasure.  No matter how we advertise ourselves or live our lives, we always have an innate spiritual side that requires honest nurturing.  I recently read a book for the second time after five years and learned more from it the second time around.  Then it occurred to me – the book had not changed, but I did. As the old saying goes: “The only constant in life is change”.  We just have to make sure we change and grow in a healthy direction.  One paramount area that strengthens that growth is our spiritual self.    

Whether we pray, meditate or just talk to God late at night or in the middle of traffic, we are nurturing our spiritual self. Spirituality is about broadening your understanding of the divine, it is about striving for internal self improvement and connecting to God on a personal level that nourishes your soul and strengthens your belief against the darkness that is in constant battle with the light.  What better way to do this than shake off our ignorance that binds us in anger, hate, depression, hopelessness and prejudice.  As the great Sufi Poet, Rumi puts it: “Love of God is rooted in our knowledge of God.  When did ignorance lead to true love?  Such ignorance is the cause of our banishment and prevents us drawing near to Him”. 

Every major religion on this planet has time dedicated to inner reflection, prayer (or meditation) and looking within to find the divine and the inner wisdom that we seek outside.  Every single day we are faced with choices that may seem shrouded in triviality, but the reality is that these choices are important decisions that shape our future, peace of mind, quality of life and conscience.

Khalil Gibran once said that: “Your daily life is your temple and your religion”, because it is in the quality of our daily life that we demonstrate our acknowledgement of the divine and make every effort to get closer to him.  The decisions we make, the values we place on moral principles, our interactions with our fellow human beings and how much worth we place on material goods are all reflections of our life message. 

As such, taking time out to dedicate some inner contemplation and reflection on how we are living our lives exhibits an effort to nurture our desire for growth.  According to Susan Jeffers: “If we learn and grow from our mistakes, then they aren’t mistakes”, but mere lessons that contribute to our mental and spiritual evolution. 

In an age where our technology has far surpassed our humanity, we must dedicate more time and effort in closing this unfortunate gap by questioning our own perceptions, values and actions.  The formula to self sabotage and inevitable unhappiness is setting goals for ourselves and then living our lives by disregarding our inner values. 

Our values are simply the inner compass that points the way ahead, we just have to check our compass every once in a while to make sure that our everyday life truly reflects our values; for it is through this alignment that we can achieve progress. Furthermore, we must evaluate our priorities, and since they do change regularly, we may want to adjust our direction here and there to live a more balanced life.  After all, we are not here to suffer and breed pessimism.  We are here to grow on a journey of continuous learning, and as specie we always learn better when we are positive, hopeful and strong.

If you’re not quite happy with the way the worlds is, remember that you are an importance cell in this giant organism called the world, and as Mahatma Gandhi eloquently puts it: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”.  If you’re upset at world politics for lacking love and compassion – be more loving.  If you’re angry at how superficial societies can be – be genuine.  And if you feel tense about unpleasant outcomes beyond your control – smile with a light heart and let go, because happiness sometimes comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open. 

Finally, let us remember that your spiritual life is also part of your private life.  How you evolve and nurture it is a private matter between you and the divine,  and the stepping stone to any form of growth is intention, because energy always flows in the direction of your intention. We’re endowed with the gift of free will.  It is in our choices and decisions that we reflect what lies in our hearts.  Let us reflect it well. 

Until next time…… Live don’t just exist!

© Taymour Qabazard 2005

For individual and corporate consultation, contact:
+44 207 602 5477 or email  info@guiding-light.net,

www.guiding-light.net or www.guiding-light.biz

PS-Magazine.com and MerlianNews.com
a trans-Atlantic holistic internet resource

About PS Magazine l Terms