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.

The Spiritual Power of Now

by Jared Akers

I came across a new blog the other day, Craig over at Inward Bloom. His post, Right now you don’t have any problems, reminded me of how important staying in the moment was early in my recovery. Hang on, let me rephrase that, to say the power of staying in the moment was important is an understatement, more precisely it was critical, crucial, possibly life saving. Even today the ability to bring myself back into the moment is a vital ingredient of my inner-peace, serenity, and spiritual growth. For in this moment, everything is OK, it’s the projections I spin out into the future or regrets of the past that compromise my serenity.

Once a month for the last three years, I have been blessed with the chance to return to the alcohol treatment center where I was a patient and share my experience, strength, and hope with the current patients. One of the things I share is the importance and power of staying in the moment. Let me tell you, it is one of the hardest things to learn how to do. I remember counselors telling me over and over, “you think too much Jared, you need to stay out of your head.” Well that’s great advice and all, but how the heck do I do that? One nugget of simple advice I remember which did help, and was something I could take action on was, “if you do go in your head, don’t stay long and take someone with you.” [Read more…]

Wants vs. Needs and Spiritual Growth

by Jared Akers

Happiness is often equal to the amount of gratitude I have, at any given time, that my needs are being met; while sadness being equal to the degree in which I have confused my wants with my needs.

Needs are items such as food, water, and shelter. If I do not get them, I will die. Wants and desires are things which I “think” will make my life better and/or bring me happiness. No matter what the price, many people spend their lives striving to obtain their wants, and yet still never find true inner-peace and happiness.

Think about the last thing you really wanted and obtained. For me, it was new laptops for both me and my wife. Oh yeah, and a camera too. Once we had those things, we were set. We eventually got them, now I want a bigger TV. I don’t need one, the one, I mean four, we have work fine. [Read more…]

Resentment, the Spiritual Time Killer and How to Avoid it

by Jared Akers

Time is precious. I don’t know about you, but I have squandered a lot of it away in the past due to unjustified anger and resentment.

Resentment: a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.

When I’m in resentment, I’m not in the moment. Anytime I’m not in this moment, I’m missing out on… well, life.

It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while.
–From Chapter 5, Pg. 66 of Alcoholics Anonymous

Think about how resentments occupy your time. They’re like a cancer eating away at moments which could be filled with joy. The next time you’re awake at 2:00 a.m. because you felt you’ve been wronged by someone, try driving by their house and see if their lights are on. Now, who is it really hurting? Resentment truly is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. [Read more…]

The Spiritual Serenity Series: Step 7, Maintenance

by Jared Akers

Welcome back to The Spiritual Serenity Series: 7 Steps to Inner Peace and Happiness. Last week we looked at step 5, Action. This week we are looking at our final step:

Step 7: Maintenance

After going through these steps, something has happened. We have felt our existence come into peace with the world around us. We can look the world in the eye and know that we have done the best we can. We feel that we are a part of something now, something bigger than ourselves. For we have laid the foundation with which real spiritual growth and happiness will spring.

Remember our quote from step 1?

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
-Ghandi

Is this not what we have done? [Read more…]

The Spiritual Serenity Series: Step 6, Action

by Jared Akers

Welcome back to The Spiritual Serenity Series: 7 Steps to Inner Peace and Happiness. Last week we looked at step 5, Confession. This week we are looking at:

Step 6: Action

So far we’ve talked a lot. Although working on the inventory and sharing our secrets with someone else could be considered action, it’s now time to see how serious we really are about change.

Not once in my life have I gained true spiritual growth by simply thinking or intellectualizing about something.

We’re talking about action, like in 9 Ways to Get the Funk Outta’ Here, “You can’t think your way into good living, you must live your way into good thinking“

This is where the rubber hits the road.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
-Lao Tzu

When I started my current job, my life coach/spiritual advisor suggested that I go around each morning and introduce myself to three new people. I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t. I felt that would be out of character for me, after all, I’m shy. He said, “Jared, you’re making it all about you, it’s not about you. It’s about meeting new people and building relationships. Being shy is another way of being self-absorbed and self-centered.” [Read more…]

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