Here are six simple ways to set yourself up for a spiritual awakening, as recommended by Danielle Dowling, Psy.D., who is a doctor of psychology and life coach in Los Angeles.
- Declutter!
- Examine your beliefs.
- Expand your mind.
- Go outside.
- Take care of yourself.
- Learn to let go.
Start by making room! Clear your space of the stuff that you no longer need, the stuff that merely serves as a distraction from your life. And while, yes, decluttering your physical space is important, it’s also important to declutter your mind. Take time every day to sit in silence and solitude.
Allow your thoughts to pass without judgment, and slowly watch your mind clear of mental clutter. Meditation allows you to relax into what is presently true—and what is always present for all of us is that there is only love, no fear—and offers you a greater connection to your intuition (another form of spiritual guidance).
Be conscious of and intentional about what you believe. Understand the energy that you’re putting not only into your world but into the world at large. And be honest—are your beliefs supporting your spiritual growth? Very often, a spiritual awakening requires letting go of beliefs we’ve held for our entire lives. But that’s the thing about awakening: You have to realize first that you have been sleeping.
Explore new ideas and differing beliefs. Read books and attend lectures and have conversations with people who have lived different lives. An awakening occurs when you have learned something new—when you have, quite literally, “woken” your mind and your spirit from a slumber you perhaps didn’t even know you were in. When you expand your mind to allow in new ideas, beliefs, and possibilities, you increase the opportunity to wake up to a life experience you never knew was possible.
There is energy and spirit and magic in the outdoors. So many of us spend our time cooped up inside, sitting behind computer screens, not truly connected to the world (or to ourselves). Take time to reconnect with nature—even in the big cities, you can find trees to touch, gardens to admire, fresh air to breathe. Try not to distract yourself with your phone or even another person’s company. Give yourself
the quiet and the solitude and the presence that comes with being outside. You may be surprised by what comes alive within you.
Eating healthy and staying active is a great way to stay connected to yourself and your higher power, whether that’s God, the Universe, or simply your own internal guidance system. When we allow our internal systems (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) to become clogged and bogged down by lethargy and unnatural substances, we block the opportunity for spiritual growth and eventual awakening. Keep your body clean and clear by feeding it well and moving it often, and prepare to receive the messages you seek.
The reality is you can’t force a spiritual awakening. Anyone can have one—and following tips like the ones in this article—will help you in that effort, but there’s no prescription for enlightenment. Do what you can, then let it go. If you’re attached to the idea of having a spiritual awakening (and attached to your idea of what a spiritual awakening looks like), you’re far less likely to experience one. Know that you are on the perfect path for you.
To know more about Dr. Danielle Dowling, visit: https://danielle-dowling.com
10 Strange Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
Participants of several spiritual awakening experiments noted distinct and reoccurring ‘symptoms’ of their awakening. After these tens of thousands of people participated in the last energy experiment, here is what they discovered.
Remember, it is possible that you may experience none of these, one of these or all of these…
- Increased Empathy and Intuition
- Feeling Drawn To Nature
- An Aversion to Negative People or Behaviours
- A Desire for a United Community
- Feeling and Believing That All Life Is Sacred
- Your Consciousness Feels Renewed
- You Are Living In ‘The Moment’
- Increased Inner Peace
- Compassion and Positivity Surges through You
- Enhanced Authenticity
You find yourself listening less to what people say and more to the feeling or intention behind their words or actions.
We may get distracted when walking outside (even during a busy day) around nature just looking at flowers, birds or the sky.
You find yourself less interested in gossip, pettiness or the judgment of others.
You seem more DRAINED by ‘us versus them’ arguments, energies or consciousness (be it politics, sports, nationalism, racial divides, etc.).
We value all life as sacred. You may find yourself taking small bugs outside to live and perform their purpose (rather than squashing them).
You begin to look back on your own life memories as only opinions of your experience versus a concrete reality. You realize now that your entire life experience can be different based on the consciousness you hold.
We are less interested in asking yourself “what if” questions. For example, “What if this person never left me” or “What if I had a better childhood?”
You don’t mind a quiet time or alone time. You now tend to shut off the T.V. and social media more often recently.
Rather than competing or wanting ill will for another, you hope we all make it and all are happy because in reality we all are connected.
You need less attention in crowds, public situations or around others. Rather you are content to watch, assist and help others to see their own truth and beauty.