Spiritual growth and wisdom... what are they?
Spiritual growth and wisdom have something to do with living right and positive change. Or does it? I'll explain my idea about spiritual growth: it's ups and downs and how it's linked to wisdom. With links to more inspiration.
Physical health and spiritual growth
Is spiritual growth linked to health?
Right now I'm as exhausted physically as I've been in a long time. I've been moving house: painting the walls of my new apartment, packing all my books into boxes etc. Very tiring. I can get myself to do things (more packing mostly) - but the moment I sit down I feel a deep fatigue.
YET - this same weekend that I'll be moving into my new place - I've also created this lens on spiritual growth and wisdom.
More on the connection between spiritual growth and health
The essence of wisdom
... is to have the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things that we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Adapted from the Serenity Prayer
What do you think wisdom is? or spiritual Growth?
[Please give general comments about this lens in the guestbook below]
I would ask the vital question "Who is it that needs to grow - spiritually or otherwise?" Is the "you" that needs to grow a concept or thought? Do you really exists as an entity at all?
Posted August 26, 2008
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BruceKing1
Accessing you hyper-dimensional consciousness. Magnetic Pill Posted August 25, 2008 |
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jaktraks
For me, spiritual growth has had a lot to do with grounding myself in everyday life. I'd prefer to have my head in the clouds but apparently I require roots as well. And thank you so much for featuring one of my lenses. Posted August 11, 2008 |
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Joan4
Spiritual growth, for me, is always a lesson in love - who am I critizing? why am I fault-finding? trying to stay in a loving place even when I feel angry. Removing from myself anything that allows me to criticize or grumble about another human being. That's a full time job! Spiritual growth is a process! for sure! Posted August 03, 2008 |
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TriciaWalsh
I am amazed at the breadth of ideas you cover and refer to. What is spiritual growth? I can't say what it is, just a little of what it is not. It is not wallowing in the past, or worrying about the future. And it is connected I think with staying 'in your body' which has a tranformative power. Posted July 14, 2008 |
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ArtSiren
Nice lens! The 'acceptance' part is a struggle for me. I would cite the famed story of Edison and his 10,000 attempts at creating a working lightbulb. Perhaps Edison's wisdom was in realising that 'he hadn't failed 10000 times; he had succeeded in finding 10000 ways that wouldn't work. And having found the ways that won't work, it was inevitable that he'd find the way that would!' Posted July 13, 2008 |
Acceptance
How much of your energy do you waste getting annoyed at people that we know will never change?
How much of your energy is wasted obsessing over what is inevitable?
I know I struggle with that - and facing up to those tendencies has always been a way to a deeper appreciation of life and yes - happiness. But the facing up part is the hard part. It won't work to just tell myself I should not get annoyed. That's just the start - I have to delve into myself to find the emotional source of the annoyance. I've cried many a tear - and what a relief it was... Because these are the kinds of tears that are followed by the happiness that comes from being able to be happy with what is.
Great things...
Great things are possible only to strong souls and it's from the trivial events of daily life that strength is won.
L.W. Rogers
The wise and the foolish
Learning from others is essential to spiritual growth ...
But which others?
There is no easy dividing line between wise people and fools. If / when you're open to others you find out each brand of wisdom - even while discarding (after examination) 50% of what they say or do as rubbish... The other 50% may just contain jewels.
Wisdom quotes and Inspiration
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Love quotes - spiritual, romantic and religious
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On LOVE in all its manifestations: romantic love, spiritual love, love as a source of creativity etc. Love quotes and links to more quotes on love.
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Spiritual Quotes and Wisdom Sayings
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This lens has links to websites and books with wise quotes from various spiritual traditions to uplift your life and inspire you to kindness, patience, inner strength and a better life in general.
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Wisdom Quotes: The Wisest Quotes Ever
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I've gathered together some of the best quotes of the wisest people around.
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Khalil Gibran - author of The Prophet
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Famous for 'The Prophet', Khalil Gibran was also a successful immigrant in the US (from Lebanon). This lens will show you his artwork as well as give spiritual quotes and links.
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The Wisdom of Crayons
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"We could learn a lot from crayons...Some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, and some have weird names, but they all have to live in the same box." ~ author unknown ~
Spiritual growth - growing in wisdom
Spiritual growth has been linked to spiritual experiences and growing success.
To me spiritual growth has mostly to do with growing in wisdom.
Spiritual experiences may happen.
Success may follow.
But neither success nor spiritual experience are proof of spiritual growth.
Courage
In order to get out, to be different, to grow beyond what you learned as a kid - you need courage.
This applies to all of us. Whether we are rich or poor, whether our parents had a great education or not even finished highschool - we all have a choice: do we stick with what we grew up with, or change into something different.
That takes COURAGE.
Sometimes it's just easy to be what you are.
Sometimes it seems like all you can do is hang on, change is just too much to ask.
Sometimes - or all the time - doing things differently, being different, just doesn't seem even possible.
Take courage, and change just that one little thing you know you CAN change. When that has become your new normal, you may just be ready for the next small change.
Ups and downs in spiritual growth
Sometimes it's obvious people are growing spiritually: they are calmer, nicer, more balanced.
But sometimes genuine spiritual growth requires going through what's called a dark night of the soul. Because you grow spiritually, you become more sensitive - and that's not easy. This sensitivity may bring along a deep sorrow about the state of the world. It may mean that unresolved issues from your past come up to haunt you...
Although in the long run this is good - in the short run it may make a person less happy and even less kind to others.
How are THEY doing?
Part of real spiritual growth is recognizing that unless you can see into a persons soul - you can't really tell how another is doing on the spiritual path.
Spiritual growth is something of the soul, not of the personality we can see.
The wisdom to know the difference - discernment
Trying to change too much is not going to work - we have our lives to live in the meantime. That's why new years resolutions usually don't stick.
Change can be as small as not drinking soda anymore.
Or parking your car a bit further from work.
Or making a point to smile at the cleaning lady - perhaps even talk to her.
One thing that helps is to read up about spiritual growth. To read about spirituality in general. Perhaps join a discussion group (or start one) that focuses on some book you think is inspiring.
More spiritual growth
- Spiritual growth, wisdom and psychology - theosophy
- A selection of articles on inner growth, wisdom and spirituality by authors like H.P. Blavatsky, W.Q. Judge, Jiddu Krishnamurti and many others.
- Meditation in Theosophy
- A selection of articles on meditation by authors like H.P. Blavatsky, W.Q. Judge, Jiddu Krishnamurti and many others.
- Ethics and spiritual growth
- My selection of articles on the ethics of inner growth and spirituality by authors like H.P. Blavatsky, W.Q. Judge, Jiddu Krishnamurti and many others.
- Short Wisdom Quotes and Aphorisms - Spiritual Quotations
- Religious quotations from various spiritual traditions: christianity, theosophy, sufism, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Blavatsky and more.
- All Considering
- I'm a spiritual person, but that spirituality gets expressed in ways that aren't that common. I don't do meditation. I don't actively seek out clairvoyance. I've stopped using tarot cards and the I-ching. This post is about what I do consider my spiritual path.
Stepping out of your comfort zone...
Wisdom - and facing challenges
I've recently been impressed by the necessity (for me) of stepping outside of my comfort zone.
It's so easy to just be comfortable with the choices I made 10 years ago about how I would live my life - but do those choices really make as much sense as I thought they did? Or do they limit more than help?
I guess it has to do with stepping outside my comfort zone - to face the world that is, instead of the world as I'd want it to be.
More wisdom
Spiritual Growth: Being Your Higher Self (Roman, Sanaya)
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 08/28/2008)
Others on Wisdom and Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Growth
- The concept of spiritual growth and development is found throughout Scripture. The disciples ask for an increased faith (Luke 17:5). Faith continues to grow (1 Cor 3:1-6; 2 Cor 10:15). Luke describes Jesus' childhood development as ...
- Christian Spiritual Growth Gameplan!
- If you were already signed up for our Reaching for The Hem TeleClasses before the Celebration, then you may already have your free Christian Spiritual Growth Gameplan. But, of the 100+ people already joining us as we Celebrate Christ ...
- All Considering - introducing my new spiritual growth blog
- I started my own self hosted blog. Check out All Considering. I've already posted about Loving your neighbours Dreaming your life - or living it? My spiritual path: pondering (or jnana yoga) Can a person live on a vegan diet? ...
Guestbook: What did you think of this lens?
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0ctavias0fferings
Great lens, 5 stars and favourited. Posted August 20, 2008 |
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qlcoach
I believe spiritual wisdom is the willingness to walk in the Light, to breathe in the Light, and to let your Light shine. I see you are a fellow traveler. Feel free to see how I try to help others too: http://www.squidoo.com/ebyway Posted August 19, 2008 |
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monarch13
You are nominated for an Excellence Award at The Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Group! Posted August 16, 2008 |
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monarch13
Thanks for joining The Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Group. 5 stars and you are featured! Posted August 12, 2008 |
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jaktraks
Very nice lens - a good resource. Thanks! Posted August 10, 2008 |
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