Comments on: Do Something: Finding Spiritual Growth in Daily Actions

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:44:48 +0000

mk,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. It is amazing how a simple change in attitude and perspective can turn an entire day around. It really is a decision. In the past, negative feelings and low self-esteem, were sort of a comfort zone for me. They also added fuel to my self-destructive behavior. Even on a sub-conscience level they allowed me to continue to drink; “I need to relax” “take the edge off” “let loose a little” – all excuses to drink. Things do happen in life that are unpleasant, that’s a fact of life, but its how I respond or react to it that is MY choice!

By: mk

mk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:42:13 +0000

Hi Jared!

You wrote:

“For me, something as simple as taking the elevator vs. the stairs can be an action towards spiritual growth. Like when I find myself wanting to isolate and avoid people and can’t decide whether to take the stairs or risk having to talk to someone in the elevator. Is there any chance of spiritual growth by avoiding people? Not for me there isn’t.”

I really like the point were are making here. These little insights that help us change what look like minor actions can be life-changing! Sometimes we forget the little things we do are just as important, or even more so, than the big ones. Especially when you add them up!

Yesterday it was raining all day long and I was stuck inside with not much to do and I could feel the emotional clouds begin to form. Then, I turned on the news and saw something very negative and aggravating and usually I would allow myself to get sucked in to it all but not yesterday… I called my wife and asked her to dinner and I changed my day. I made a conscious decision to do something different that was good for me AND my relationship with my wife.

I must add here that you helped me. I am a recovering alcoholic as well and I have been reading through a lot of your material and when I read about how you look back at your day and conduct a “moral inventory” of your thoughts and actions I too started to do this. And when that point in time arrived yesterday when I had a choice to fall into the same old “negative” habit OR do something else that was better for me this is what motivated me. I did a “quick” moral check and found I was not sticking to my recovery plans – get out and away from the TV more.

Thanks!

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:36:08 +0000

Emily-Sarah,
That’s a wonderful story about doing the laundry and looking for purpose in daily tasks. Thanks for sharing! I can relate, my wife does the laundry and I put it away… at least that’s how it’s suppose to work most of the time.

By: emily-sarah

emily-sarah — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:28:38 +0000

Wonderful message, and although we say it seems impossible, it would surely transform our world if we would approach everything with an element of the spiritual. If you look back a couple hundred years, people didn’t so clearly separate secular vs. spiritual/religious, and when we put deeper meaning into, oh, even laundry, then our mindset can shift. (It makes laundry more bearable too: I’m not just folding stuff {that I’ll have to wash, dry, and fold again}, I’m providing clean clothes for my family whom I love. If I reflect on that and use that time also to pray for my hubby and son, thank God for my family, and feel gratitude, then a mundane task enters grander, deeper, more eternal realms. And I’ll add here that while I do the laundry, my husband does all the ironing!)

By: Jared

Jared — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:43:40 +0000

Thanks Finola, When I started my current job, my life coach suggested that I go around every morning the first week and introduce myself to three new people. I was like, "that's just crazy, that's just not me." His response was, this isn't about you. My shyness can cause me to be a part from as opposed to a part of. It's still difficult sometimes, but like you, I find that when something is uncomfortable is usually when I learn or grow the most!

By: Finola Prescott

Finola Prescott — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:12:12 +0000

Gosh, I just read this post. So many things I can ID from my life in there. I’ve been ‘shy’ all my life-still am- can’t think how much I’ve missed in life from this misconceived notion of shyness, feeling like people will notice what’s ‘wrong’ with me, when the only wrong thing was probably not going somewhere based on that notion!
I’ve been actively working on taking a breathe and going or doing when I feel my ‘shyness’ kicking in and it invariably works out many times more positive than I’d expected.
Glad I checked back down the list of email this morning and read this- do have a wonderful week Jared and everyone.

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:07:34 +0000

Megan,
Thanks for sharing what’s going on with you. You know, even when I look at what I have accomplished and am working on over the last couple years, I actually have been more busy then during my $10 life days. But it’s funny, I don’t feel that busy. I think it’s because I’m present to myself and my place in this world. I don’t take time spent with loved ones for granted and make a real effort to be present when I’m sharing time with friends and family.

By: Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord

Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:02:38 +0000

Just tonight I was letting an outside measure determine how I felt about myself inside. Such a backwards way to be! Admittedly, I all too easily get caught up in the “how valuable am I?” syndrome, when what I really need to remember is that just by being, I’m of value.

I don’t suffer from staying too busy most days, but lately I’ve been letting myself get distracted by all the busy-ness around me. I don’t prefer it. I find such peace, love and fulfillment when, as you said, I slow down and observe all of life around me. More than observe, really — appreciate all of life.

I really enjoyed this post, and enjoy your writing!

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:43:10 +0000

Thanks Jonathan,
Communication is one of the keys to everything I believe. Although for me, I had to learn how to listen to and communicate with myself. Knowing what I was feeling and why. Years ago when I was in a treatment center for alcohol abuse, my counselor gave me a sheet of paper that had all these faces drawn on it with different emotions. Mad, sad, anger, loneliness, etc. Below the faces were a long lists of emotions that could cause those feelings. For example Anger would have fear (among others) listed below it. If I was angry, I would look down the list and see “fear” and think to myself…. OK, that’s what it is really, I’m fearful or scared of something, I can feel that. Then I could work on recognizing what I was actually scared of. Which was usually not being loved or accepted. Then I had something to work with. I still use that tool today, although its more automatic.

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:37:52 +0000

Thanks Dena,
It’s really quite a miraculous perspective compared to how I used to live, in regards to character building. I used to look at “character” as simply a tool to getting something I wanted. Sure I could have integrity, if it was going to GET me something. I would be nice and overflowing with character if I thought it would put me in a position to better my own circumstances. Today I strive to be a better person and have integrity because it’s “the change I want to see in the world.” And to be honest, it’s a heck of a lot easier. Happiness truly is the by-product of right living, and for me, right living means working on my character for the sake of becoming a better person and not as a means of manipulation.