Much of my work with individuals and organizations has me working on understanding and strengthening the spirit of whoever or what ever organization I am working with. Because I am a part time Methodist minister, often people assume I mean religion. While for many of us, religion can be part of our path to the life and results we want in life, when I speak of spirituality in my work, I am talking about something else entirely. Let’s see if I can explain a little better what I mean.

Spirituality is often misconstrued as synonymous with religion or a connection to a higher power. But in reality, Spirituality is about the essence of the human spirit. Our spirit. Spirituality is a deeply personal and subjective. It involves the exploration of one’s inner self, andn the inner selves of the people we worth with or want to serve. It means seeking meaning and purpose. spirituality encourages individuals to embark on a journey of self-reflection, introspection, and the cultivation of an authentic relationship with the world around them.

The human spirit, in the context of spirituality, embodies qualities such as compassion, empathy, and a profound sense of interconnectedness. It is the recognition that every individual shares a common thread of humanity, irrespective of cultural, religious, or geographical differences.

Spirituality encourages mindfulness and presence in the moment, emphasizing the importance of living authentically and aligning one’s actions with their values. Practices such as meditation, contemplation, and mindfulness serve as tools for individuals to connect with their inner selves, fostering a deeper understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and the world around them. Spirituality often intersects with disciplines such as psychology and philosophy, contributing to our undestanding our deepest nature.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

But there is a dark side to our spirituality that often acts as a roadblock to our success. You see, along the way, from the time we are kids, events and people are beating up on our spirit. We are hurt by people. Ridiculed. Ignored. Made to feel like the parts of us that WE consider important are, well, not. We have failures and often we (too often with the help of people who think they have our best interests in mind.) begin to believe we never will reach our dreams, or worse, that our dreams are frivilous and worthless.

When this has happened, we make our stab at success, but then we hit something that triggers all those negative thoughts. It becomes uncomfortable. We struggle with our wounded spirits and then it all just becomes too uncomfortable, too hard. And we fail. And fail. and fail again.

It is not that we are not smart enough, or our idea is not good enough. It is that deep inside, we are wounded. Heal the wound, and we can do all the things we never thought we could do. Even the things we may have failed at before.

This is at the heart of how I operate, as a coach, as a business consultant, as a spiritual counselor and even a pastor. Learn the wound. Heal the wound. THEN do the “to do list” of things it takes to succede.

It is not the obvious work of success, but it is the most certain way to get where we want. No matter what your dreams and goals.

Be well,

Tom

PS: I am producing a free online class that treats this subject in more detail. It should debut the first week in January If you are interested in seeing it, let me know.

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