In essence, we are all spiritual people. We always have been and we always will be. There is just no escaping this universal truth! However, this does not mean we are all conducting our lives in ways that are aligned to our true nature.
Naturally, some people are displaying greater levels of awareness of their divinity than others. Unfortunately, most people are living in ways that their spirit remains deeply hidden behind their egos. And for these people, their thoughts, feelings, and actions reveal that they do not know ‘what they really are.’……. And that’s ok!
I say it’s ok, because, we are ALL part of the ‘ONE CONSCIOUSNESS.’ And our intention for choosing to forget our divine nature in the first place was to come here and immerse ourselves in ‘The Great Game of Life.’ Wow…. what a game it’s turned out to be!
Here, in this physical world, we get to experience a whole range of contrasting experiences. And it’s fun because it’s something we cannot do when we are ‘at home’ as an aware aspect of God. We choose to come here to play, for the joy of experiencing the game.
I know many of you are saying that it’s not fun when all this suffering is happening all around us. However, it’s important to understand that our soul does not, and cannot, ever suffer. Our spiritual selves only ever experience bliss in the knowledge that all experiences are for the benefit and the expansion of the ONE CONSCIOUSNESS.
The more we come to view our lives and the infinite game that is playing out around us through the eyes of source energy, the more we will come into alignment with the understanding that ALL of life is bliss.
“You are one thing only. You are a Divine Being. An all-powerful Creator. You are a Deity in jeans and a t-shirt, and within you dwells the infinite wisdom of the ages and the sacred creative force of All that is, will be and ever was.” – Anthon St. Maarten
So, how do we live in this world and evolve with the intention of living our experience through the ‘mind’ of Source Energy? In other words, how can we experience our lives as ‘Heaven on Earth,’ right here and right now?
The best place to start is by understanding the words of The Master, Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the WAY.” Jesus didn’t say ‘follow me,’ or walk behind me, or beside me…… He said I am the way. And what is the way? You’ll find it is the same process by which many others have achieved spiritual enlightenment throughout history.
“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda
Yes, we have to learn to tune into and then follow the desires of our individual soul nature.
So, let’s see what traits others who have achieved spiritual awakening, or enlightenment, share in common. How did they manage to transition from living in some sort of version of hell on earth to living as an aware spiritual being in ‘Heaven on Earth.’
What are 10 common traits of spiritual people?
1) They choose to maintain a childlike sense of wonder.
Children live in gratitude…. They appreciate all the wonders and experiences that life has to offer. And they throw themselves into whatever they are doing wholeheartedly. And this is why it is so much easier for children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Can you remember back to a time when you used to do the same?
Life was exciting, life was an endless adventure, and life was filled with fun and awesome stuff. And when we didn’t see anything new, we just made it up! Our imaginations were a magical doorway to more fun and adventure!
Then, the unthinkable happened. We were told to grow up and accept responsibilities for this and that and the stuff happening over there….. and consequently, we lost our connection to our freedom-loving spirit.
Somehow, everything became something we had to worry about, whether it directly affected us or not. So we learned to fear stuff happening half a world away, got involved in a discussion about the ugly color of the house we saw on our way to work, and read the latest scientific research that proved that drinking red wine has health benefits….. but the report last week that said it was bad for us, and the one the week before that said 1 glass a night is ok…… confused with all this responsibility yet???????
“Freedom is discovering the only things we need to be free from were our own mental chasings, clinging’s, and aversions.” – Ganga Karmokar
Life becomes easier when we learn to let go of the things that are none of our business and the things we have no control over. Non-attachment to specific outcomes doesn’t cause stress….. it’s attachment that causes stress, pain, suffering, and anxiety!
2) Spiritual people consider the consequences of ALL their thoughts, words, and actions before doing anything.
Universal law dictates that all things are energy and that all energy has a vibration. The vibrations of our thoughts, words, and actions can be used to elevate our consciousness or to lower it. And wise beings, because they understand this, only ever make choices that add beneficial vibrations into the world. Why? Because they live here too….. and just like us, they want to live better lives as well.
Having said that, it’s important to realize that it’s not just the actions that count, but of more importance is the spirit/intention with which they are done. With this in mind, for example; we can still defend ourselves from an attacker and cause no energetic damage if we have no malice in our hearts.
By understanding that the attacker is a wounded soul who is disconnected from the spiritual truth of their being, we can defend ourselves with compassion, understanding, and forgiveness in our hearts. As Christ said, “It is the hearts and minds that are judged,” not our actions. And this is why spiritual people always think, speak, and act with positive outcomes in mind.
3) They spend regular time alone.
Initially for the spiritual seeker, meditation, contemplation, prayer, mindfulness, etc…… are a way to detach from the stresses of daily life. However, with time and practice, they cultivate an inner peace that is so profound and complete that we are no longer swayed by the drama of life that constantly surrounds us.
When this level of understanding is achieved, it doesn’t matter what is happening in the world outside of us and surrounding us, the spiritual achiever will always be able to remain at peace and able to perform at peak levels.
A state of inner equanimity is developed over time by letting go of attachments to having things turn out a certain way. An enlightened being has no preference as to how things should be and can find joy in ‘the way things are.’
4) They joyfully express creativity.
Creative outlets, including music, drawing, dancing, writing, etc. allow for the expression of what cannot be logically understood. These endeavors’ greatest gift to us is that they immerse us fully in the present divine moment. And when we are ‘in the zone’ we are speaking to God, listening to God, and also sharing that journey with others who may benefit from our connectedness.
5) Spiritual people seek joy over pleasure.
Most people today are seeking happiness and pleasure on an ‘external’ level. They no longer know the difference between real joy and temporary relief. Alcohol, drugs, sex, or a fun movie can please us, and make us smile. However, the good feelings don’t last and are soon replaced by an empty feeling again.
Spiritual people understand that real and lasting joy, happiness, love, etc. are an internal state of being. They cannot be sorted after or gained from the external world. And once we learn to cultivate them from within, they are ours forever.
When we are filled with joy and gratitude for our experience, and unconditional love for who we are, appreciation will shine from our being, and no one or nothing can ever take that away from us.
6) They become fully immersed in the experience of life.
Spiritual seekers do not separate themselves from the learning potential of emotional and physical pain. Instead, they immerse themselves deeply in the experience of day-to-day living, more so than most other people. Why? Because they understand that having ‘this experience’ is the reason their soul has incarnated here and now.
Unfortunately, in contrast, most others are living unaware lives, like robots, and are hardly conscious of what they are doing on a moment-to-moment basis. They exist in ‘autopilot mode,’ and are missing the sheer joy that being immersed in the experience of life offers our eternal souls.
The difference between the two, those who are sleepwalking through life and those who are awake, is to be found in the quality of their thinking…. That’s all…… Thoughts create reality, and we can think ourselves into Heaven or Hell anytime we choose!
“The degree of freedom from unwanted thoughts and the degree of concentration on a single thought are the measures to gauge spiritual progress.” – Ramana Maharshi
7) Spiritual people practice non-attachment.
Living a simple life is the choice of true spiritual aspirants. They understand that the true magic of living is to be found in relationships and experiences rather than the collection of another car, another holiday home, and 10 more pairs of ‘this seasons’ shoes.
However, that’s not to say that having stuff that brings us fun and pleasure and enhances our lives and the lives of those we love is somehow wrong…… because it’s not. However, it’s not good if we are attached to having these things, because attachment means that these things have power over our feelings.
What happens if someone scratches our new car, or we lose our new shoes……Will we lose our connection to our spiritual self and suffer the emotions of loss, fear, anxiety, and stress? It’s just stuff that we can’t take with us. It’s not even real…. It’s just a collection of atoms vibrating at a frequency response to our thoughts and desires….. and we can always achieve them again……. Attachment = pain. Non-attachment = freedom from suffering.
8) They practice love and compassion for all beings, including themselves.
Spiritual people lead with their heart, not with their intellect. Why? Because our hearts are connected to God (infinite love). And our intellects are connected to our messed up egos (endless suffering). Which one do you think is going to support you the most so you can make the best decisions for your life?
Our hearts tell us that the way to be kind, loving, considerate, and compassionate towards others is first to be these things to ourselves.
“Be kind to yourself as you proceed along this journey. This kindness, in itself, is a means of awakening the spark of love within you and helping others to discover that spark within themselves.” – Tsoknyi Rinpoche
9) Spiritual People are dependable, reliable, honest, and exercise discretion in all matters.
Spiritual people are honest with themselves and they accept responsibility for the ‘energy waves’ they vibrate out into the world. As mentioned before, they ensure that their contribution to the world and ALL life is positive.
To be able to do this, the spiritual person must have cleansed their persona of all that was ‘non-beneficial.’ They release all judgment, fear, criticism, doubt, stress, etc. and replace it with unwavering faith in the process of life….. Why? Because when you know that you are ONE with the creator, you know that you are safe, you are free, and that nothing is ever wrong!
“When blame and self-judgement are transformed, healed, and cease to be, we have reawakened without the myth, the mythos, of separation. We are One.” – Wendy E. Slater
10) The wisest of all spiritual people are the ones who have given up the search for what it means to be ‘spiritual.’
Instead, they have just immersed themselves in living their lives to the fullest. They do this because, at the end of the day, it is the only sane and rational thing to do whether you believe you are a spiritual being or not! So, just live in a way that honors your SELF as best you can, AT ALL TIMES!
