Spirituality and Living Your Purpose

JP | #Intangibl3
Jul 5, 2017
3 min read

Spirituality

Life is spiritual. I’ve found this truth, even in my railing against it. You may ask, “What does ‘spiritual’ mean?” Honestly? I suppose that I don’t fully know. There could be any number of definitions held by any number of people. The meaning of the word is probably steady and immovable to some, yet fluid and ambiguous to others.

In my life I think that I’ve used the word ‘spiritual’ to describe several different states of being and events that I’ve experienced. I think that when one feels ‘close to God’ they are feeling quite spiritual. Now, just what ‘close to God’ means is a topic for another post, as it’s ambiguity, I feel, is even more pronounced than that of the word ‘spiritual.’

Sometimes a feeling of spirituality can come from deep inner pain. I’ve known this to be true in my own life. It happens that great revelations can be realized about oneself in the midst of pain and tragedy. One may also feel spiritual when in the throes of great joy or ecstasy. Aside from other activities that may bring on these emotions, sex in particular has long been linked to feelings of “heavenly” or “spiritual” bliss, and not for nothing.

Further, the concept of Heaven has been thought of in tandem with spirituality since ages long past; as well the concept of an afterlife, which itself has taken innumerable different forms throughout human history.

Living Your Purpose

I find that I feel spiritual when I’m living my purpose – or at least doing my best to do so. The most difficult part, in my opinion, is discovering which of the many ideas, desires and goals that are ever present in my mind are linked to my purpose.

It’s difficult to even slightly understand the true purpose of the individual, though it is far more difficult to fully grasp that purpose. Many never experience either. In my experience, the more I discover about my true self, what is in my heart and who I am, I feel ever more spiritual. When this happens I feel like I’m coming close to unveiling what it means to be “truly living.”

I’ve searched for this feeling in many different areas but I have not found it, save for that inkling that I earnestly claw for whenever it deigns to favor me with a brief, yet addicting grin. I see that grin only when I seek to live my heart’s purpose out in my life. If I’m not actively seeking to do so then the lights go out and I find myself slowly, but steadily, sinking down, unable to escape the mire that is the unfulfilled life.

I’m far from fulfilled, but I’ve discovered that the only way to remedy that situation is by taking that leap of faith every time I get the chance. There isn’t just one leap that needs to be taken in life, it’s an almost daily practice. One must repeatedly make the same decision to dance with faith instead of fear.

Of these two partners, faith and fear, whichever one you dance with is the one that determines your life. If fear, you will slowly drown in your swamp of self-loathing; if faith, well, faith will lead you to places you haven’t yet imagined. Belief in God, in yourself and in your purpose will most certainly have profound effects in your life.

Life Fulfilled

As it stands now, I believe that the word ‘spiritual’ best describes the life that is lived to the fullest – the fulfilled life. I believe that the spiritual person is one who lives true to his faith, his self and his purpose – regardless of what anyone else has to say about it.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe not. Decide for yourself what the truth is and then live that truth as if your life depends on it – because it does.

Until next time,

JP