“The term “spirituality” lacks a definitive definition.” This statement from the online etymology dictionary caught my attention… (see more from Wikipedia) . How ironic and appropriate to come across a term that cannot be defined except by oneself! I have often found that until I can define something, I don’t have an understanding of it; if I don’t have an understanding of it, then I am not consciously applying in my life.
What is your definition of spirituality?
In the defining, we begin to see where we are actually living what we say is important to us. This practice of self discovery invites not only greater understanding, but greater authenticity and accountability – we begin to see where we are being effective or ineffective, where we’re being honest with ourselves or not.
Social scientists have defined spirituality as:
The search for “the sacred,” where “the sacred” is broadly defined as that “which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration.”
This begs the question, what is sacred to you…
- in life?
- in business or career?
- in relationships?
- in how you do anything – the big things, and the little things?
Are your life, business, relationships and how you operate “set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration?” Or are they dull, boring, or overcrowded with anxiety, overwhelm, reaction or repeated ineffective patterns? Is there a sense of energy and aliveness? Does your spiritual life seem separate or disconnected from your everyday life of down to earth, practical matters like running a household or a business?
Veneration is defined as respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person.
- Where are you in awe of yourself and your life?
- Where are you inspired by your own dignity, wisdom, dedication and talent?
- How have you defined your life in ways that hold these parameters as sacred, as non negotiable?
The act of defining spirituality shakes things up – we begin to look beyond the assumptions and perceptions of conditioned thinking or inherited beliefs or habits that have lost their life-luster. It’s the “shake-up call” to awareness of what’s really going on and what we can do to come back to a vibrant life filled with its own dignity, wisdom, dedication and talent. It’s the “shake-up” we need to share this vibrancy with a world that desperately needs it. We live in a time where the shift of consciousness that is occurring is so important and so needed. Look at just a couple of statistics and we are reminded, and called to “Take Our Stand”:
- The Global Study on Homicide reported that in 2012, intentional homicide took the lives of almost half a million people.
- The US federal price tag for the Iraqi and Afghanistan/Pakistan wars is close to $4 trillion (let alone the cost of all other countries involved)
- The United Nations reported that in 2010-2012, nearly 870 million people, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment
- According to Food Banks Canada, nearly 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks each month and 38% of those helped are children and youth
Huh?! We live in a world gone completely mad!
- How can this be happening?
- How can it be acceptable?
- What can we do to change things, to shake things up?
If each one of us took responsibility for honoring our own dignity, wisdom, dedication, talent, wonder and awe, wouldn’t we in turn, seek to help our fellow human beings? Isn’t it time we awoke from the apathy we’ve grown up in and ask those hard hitting questions? And isn’t that what spirituality is about? As we define it for ourselves, we come to see the responsibility that we have to live from a higher place in consciousness – to engage the thinking and actions that will access creative solutions to heal our planet.
How can we make this a better world? By defining and applying our definition of spirituality… we move beyond our egos, our self absorption and limited perceptions; we begin to grasp what the mystics have been saying for thousands of years and we yearn to engage that infinite intelligence within… if indeed we are unlimited, infinite, changeless consciousness at our core, then what are we doing to demonstrate this for real-world solutions? What are we doing to “get over ourselves” so that we can instead “give of ourselves?” I believe it begins with listening to “the call,” the call to greatness that comes to each one of us in the form of listening to a deeper, more authentic, awe-inspired place within us. As we follow through in the commitment to do the work, we become more mindful of the possibilities… and THAT is the living, breathing, dynamic definition of spirituality… the awe inspiring experience of our infinite, changeless, effortlessness… imagine the possibilities of coming together from this amazing space of creativity to bring healing to our hurting world.
It begins one step at a time, one person at a time, with the courage to change, and none of us does this alone. As Ram Dass said, “we are all walking each other home.”
If you enjoyed this blog, we welcome your comments and insights. If you would like to know more about Cheryl Brewster and her workshops and retreats, visit TheIntuitiveLife.com – where you can learn more and also sign up on two different places on the home page: one for general events and newsletter and the second one for a daily inspired quote (look under the testimonials box for this one). Cheryl is a highly respected professional speaker and personal and business intuitive specializing in helping people transition from stress to success in life and business.
