Find spiritual growth despite daily life challenges….How do you know if you are spiritually growing?

“If your enlightenment is egocentric and self-delusional, then life will soon give you a challenge that will bring out your unconsciousness in whatever form—as fear, anger, defensiveness, judgment, depression, and so on.” Eckhart Tolle

So I ask the question: if you face the challenge, face your unconscious- feel, anger, fear, etc….does this make you more enlightened? 

You may be like me: a fairly spiritually educated person, who goes to yoga, eats well (with occasional sugary treats of course), reads inspirational quotes and takes signs from the Universe for face value….looking to find the positive in the negative whenever I can- the Silver Lining. 

But what happens when you find yourself confronted with a situation or challenge out of your control? (Think the election results, stories in the media)— confronted with a lesson you know is in front of you, in which you just can’t see that Silver Lining?

How do you know if you are spiritually growing despite these challenges?

One way is that you are open to a “lesson” from the situation.
I believe in my human mind that one way to get closer to enlightened spirit is to welcome and be open to let the Good in. You may not see the Lesson per say; it may not be right in front of you, ready to grasp. We mostly don’t have perfect days that are without difficulties. But feel comforted that you are spiritually progressing simply because you look for positivity in these difficulties. Instead of focusing on the bad, you reach for the good, whether it shows up then or later.
For a person like you, who is on the spiritual path, know that it is YOUR spiritual path, and complications are essential for your growth. Sometimes the risk is behind the light and you must step into the shadow to see it- otherwise you may risk the Risk in not staying open and positive….and that doesn’t feel spiritual. It feels more like the ego is speaking - speaking out in anger, fear, sadness, judgment, you fill the word in. 

So I say let’s help each other to look to inspiration from the quiet gaps in-between our thoughts, in the moments where we can get solo and sit with the silence, during meditation, before sleep, whenever you can.  Confront the situation by allowing yourself to feel, on a human level first and foremost. Step into your awareness and be open to all that awaits inside….be with the fear, the unknown, the difficult- that’s what we can do, that’s where the spiritual growth comes from, that’s where a small slice of enlightenment awaits you.

Namaste,
Gillian