My Spirituality for the New Agers

I think our spiritual path is much more important than what we do for health. In reality, we can't separate the two, but we do consciously or unconsciously put one before the other. There are so many things you can put in front of or in place of a relationship with God. Until you actually have one, your life is just self-centered. I know this from my personal experience. It was all about me- even my spirituality was self-centered- until I truly surrendered to God. And I can't say I've done that perfectly, but I've reached a place where I am willing to put God's ideas and God's will before mine- so I seek it every day.



I think I have a different definition of spirituality than many people in my profession, indeed different from many of my patients. I distinguish spirituality from morality, from the emotions, and from the mind. My path and my studies have led me to the conclusion that, although there are relationships between them, there truly are different levels- a physical level, a mental level, an emotional level, and a spiritual level. Pure emotionalism- getting worked up- can be related to spirituality, but it isn't spiritual in itself. Something new to you can excite you emotionally. But dealing with your emotions is not necessarily dealing with your spirit. The mind is used to interact with the spiritual level of reality- we try to understand it, we pray, we read, we meditate and reflect on spiritual truths.



And certainly, I believe, and I have personally experienced that getting right spiritually improves mental, emotional, and even physical well being. But we have to be really careful here- that does not mean that everyone who has problems is not right spiritually. Some people believe if you are really spiritual, you will have a lot of money and perfect well-being. I know for a fact that some very spiritual people who are living right now, and historical who's who's of spirituality sometimes had serious diseases that didn't go away. For me it's really simple- God is good, and I'm thankful for all the good he gives us, but sometimes difficult things happen, including illness- and these can be used for good too. They develop our character.



Essential to my definition of spirituality is growing in your character. How patient are you? How loving? How humble? How generous? How other-oriented? How god-oriented? The spiritual path I've taken has changed my character. I was shy, angry, impatient, dishonest, and self-centered. By surrendering to God, examining myself through journaling, praying, meditating, sharing, and helping others, I've changed. I'm not perfect and never will be, but my character has improved. I'm somewhere between where I was, and where God's perfection is.



And believe it or not, that's the short version.