Spirituality Articles

Spirituality is a broad yet personal topic. Although it can vary as much as people do, spirituality is an important part of figuring out how to be happy.

5 Ways of Finding Peace Within

by Jared Akers

“We can be sure that the greatest hope for maintaining equilibrium in the face of any situation rests within ourselves.”
—Francis J. Braceland

Inner peace is not something I simply woke up with one day. Finding inner peace came out of necessity from years of living a life run on self-will. The result of which were failed relationships, low self-esteem, self-destructive behavior, never knowing how to be happy, and depression. In a moment of desperation, I was forced to abandon my life as I knew it and ask for help. Through a spiritual program and accepting the help from a fellowship of caring, unselfish, and loving people who had something I wanted—serenity and inner peace—I found what I had always been looking for. The belief in a power greater than myself, in my case a loving God as I understood him/her, and a loving relationship with myself. In my time of desperation, I did not know this was what I was looking for, I simply realized I did not want to die and was willing to do whatever it took to relieve the pain. [Read more…]

In the midst of winter: finding my invincible summer

by Jared Akers

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
—Albert Camus

While sitting in the hot tub a few nights ago, I discovered a wonderful way to meditate. Meditation is a process I like to practice when I’m feeling the internal winter that sometimes creeps into my soul. By “winter” I’m referring to a gentle nudge of my serenity. Ninety percent of the time this feeling is based in fear. Fear of loosing something I think I have or not getting something I think I want. By quieting my mind, I can listen for the answers.

I like to SCUBA dive. Diving is one of the most spiritual experiences I engage in. Being submerged in another world full of beautiful creatures is truly amazing and nurturing for the soul. So here’s my process of meditation which works for me:

Find a comfortable position
Close my eyes and concentrate on breathing. I tend to think “God” or “Spirit” when breathing in and “self” when breathing out. This helps me relieve myself of “me” as much as possible
I imagine I’m drift diving over a beautiful reef in crystal blue waters. Drift diving is as close to flying as I’ve ever come, you simply ride along the current and float over the reef.
As I’m drifting along looking at all the beautiful sea life, I concentrate on as much detail as I can, trying to make out the different types of coral and schools of fish.
If something comes into my mind—work, school, finances—I try and let it float by. If it keeps returning I have to do something to get it out of my mind. If the thought is school, I picture one of my text books, again concentrating on as much detail as possible. I must find something that visually represents the thought. Once I have a clear image of it, I imagine the object is floating over head and beginning to block out the sun and is disturbing my beautiful dive. As the object begins to block the sun, I watch it move slowly down from above and right in front of my face. I then imagine the object beginning to morph into a colorful fish. Like a bright yellow angel fish or something I’ve seen before under the ocean. As the object morphs it begins to descend past me towards the reef below. I then watch as the fish begins to swim around some rocks and coral. I then let the current take me on down to the next coral head or item of interest.

I try and continue this process for as long as possible, usually around 20-30 minutes. Afterward I feel refreshed and revitalized. This is when answers come to me. My mind is clearer and ready for guidance. Its at these times when I find my internal summer. The feeling deep inside that no matter what happens, everything is going to be OK. True serenity.

Thank Heaven for 7 Eleven

by Jared Akers

I didn’t know 7 Eleven’s slogan was “Thank Heaven for 7 Eleven.” I know, I know, not sure where I’ve been for the last 30 years or so. I was getting gas there yesterday and their little screen at the pre-pay pump displayed “Thank Heaven” on it. I thought, wow, that’s cool. Amen to that. My wife informed me that was their slogan, not just a personal little message for me. Oh well, I took it as one. 😉

Life is not a search for happiness

by Jared Akers

For years I searched for happiness outside myself. If I could just obtain the perfect job, relationship, or material possessions, then I would be happy. I thought that if I only managed well, stayed focused, and dug in, I could wrestle happiness out of life. My thinking was backwards:

Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living the right kind of a life, of doing the right thing. Do not search for happiness, search for right living and happiness will be your reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But happiness will come again, as God’s smile of recognition of your faithfulness. True happiness is always the by-product of a life well lived.
– Twenty-Four Hours a Day (Hazelden Education Materials) December 16th.

Who would have thought? Not me. Not until I was forced, out of desperation, to seek a new way of thinking. My way was just not working. In fact, it was slowly killing me. [Read more…]

I am free

by Jared Akers

i'm free I am free. Standing on the tip of a rock overlooking the pacific ocean on the beautiful island of Kauai, I am free. A few days prior I married my best friend, Emily, I am free.

I’ve been to this island before, I’ve been married here before, but I was a prisoner then. A prisoner to living a life on self will. I don’t remember much then, only that I was terrified inside of what my life had become and where it was going. I was chained to the thought that I could find happiness in my life if only I could manage it better.

The life I had then is gone, the person I was then is gone, it died the day I turned my will and my life over to my Higher Power, God.

This time, I see God’s presence every where. The day before our wedding, Emily and I went on a shore dive off Koloa landing and saw two octopus mating. How cool is that! It’s rare to see octopus, not to mention to see them mating! On our boat dive, we saw lots of critters (too many to mention) but the highlight was the endanged Hawaiian Monk Seal. [Read more…]