By Melissa Eisler

Your spiritual journey is just that … a journey. There are times when you might need to change course, adjust practices, or let go of certain beliefs. What worked for you at the beginning of your spiritual journey may not work for you now. Or perhaps there are old practices that you can once again adopt to serve your growth. Regardless of where you are on your journey, it’s important to continue building stronger connections with your Higher Power, your True Self, and others.

Spiritual strength does not come passively. It takes an active posture to encourage growth. Many spiritual leaders throughout history have endured excruciating pain and suffering, setting an example for intentionality and dedication to beliefs and practices. And if there’s one thing you can learn from them, it’s that your spiritual journey is your own. What works for you may not work for your best friend or partner, and vice versa.

Whether you’ve been stuck, you’re feeling apathetic, or you’re simply seeking growth in the spiritual domain, here are four ways to strengthen your spirituality.

Practice Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a power action and a catalyst for change. There are many terrible things that happen in this world, and chances are you’ve been hurt badly by someone in the past. Holding onto that hurt and fostering a grudge only encourages negativity to fester and harden your heart. And you may not be aware of this, but that grudge is affecting you much more than the other person.

While it’s not easy to forgive, it’s a necessary step toward wholeness and true connection with your True Self. Lean on your Higher Power to increase the strength within to forgive those who have wronged you. Surround yourself with mentors, friends, or spiritual gurus to help guide you in the process.

If you need some inspiration, use Mahatma Gandhi as an example. He said it best, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

Be Open and Honest with Others

While spirituality is subjective, its power lies in shared connection with others. Forging true authenticity opens your mind, body, and spirit to infinite possibilities. It’s easy to default to operating out of your False Self—the “you” that you share with the world to please others, meet expectations, and guard your heart. But power comes from sharing all of who you are—your True Self—with those you trust.

Take a risk and be vulnerable by sharing your secrets, your uncertainties, and your shortcomings with others. By experiencing acceptance just as you are—flaws and all—your Spirit is allowed to breathe and celebrate that no one is perfect and that beauty can come from messiness. Here are some ideas on how to do this:

• Have dinner with a trusted friend, setting the expectation that you want to get vulnerable
• Attend a support group where anonymity is required
• Find a spiritual leader who is willing to listen
• Seek counseling with a licensed professional or a life coach who will listen objectively

Explore Your Inner-Self

Who you are is unique and worthy of exploration. By spending intentional time getting to know yourself inside and out, you can begin to identify what gives you life and what depletes you. With this knowledge, you’re able to create a life of abundance, honoring your way of being and giving space to others to step into their True Selves as well.

Try any of these practices to start exploring:

• Journal about times in your life when you were content and times you were down. Identify any lifestyle patterns or circumstances that can shed light on what you need more or less of in your life now.
• Discover your dosha type through our online dosha quiz. Knowing your mind-body type can provide awareness of what you need to live a balanced life.
• Meet regularly with a spiritual leader who can guide you through self-exploration activities and practices.
• Meditate with the intention of discovering your true self.
• Take personality assessments like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and StrengthsFinder to gain valuable insight into how you interact with others.

Create a Rule of Life

Your “Rule of Life” is a roadmap for how you want to live your life, outlining spiritual practices that you commit to regularly engaging in to maintain connection to your Higher Power, True Self, and others. This is meant to act as a guide, not a rulebook, so give yourself grace if you don’t follow it exactly. It is also fluid, so recognizing when practices are serving you—and when they’re not—is important. You can always adjust as you see fit.

Some regular practices for connection to a Higher Power might include:

• Prayer
• Meditation
• Silence

For connection to Self, try:

• Solitude
• Journaling
• Creative expression

To connect to others, some good practices might be:

• Regular dinners with friends and family
• Spiritual gatherings
• Retreats

Creating a Rule of Life can seem daunting, especially if you’re trying to overhaul your life. Before setting yourself up for failure, remember to make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. Keep these considerations in mind:

• Incorporate practices that fit into your existing schedule. If you barely have time to eat during the day, chances are you can’t schedule a half-day retreat to spend alone. Instead, start with making the time to eat away from a computer, phone, or other people.
• Try practices that align with your interests. If you aren’t a creative person, then perhaps you don’t start with a commitment to creating four pieces of art in a month. Instead, find something that will nourish your soul and bring you pleasure. If podcasts are your jam, then commit to listening to three per week on your commute instead of zoning out to mindless music.
• Adjust your practices according to your needs. What is serving you today may not serve you tomorrow or in six months. Likewise, you might think you need one hour of silence and solitude in the morning, but you’re sacrificing sleep for it. It might be better to commit to adequate rest first, and then incorporate intentional solitude once you’re rested.

While these suggestions aren’t exhaustive, they are a good place to start to strengthen your spirituality. Remember that the mind, body, and spirit are all connected, and you should balance your life accordingly. If your body is exhausted and you’re not getting proper nutrition, you probably won’t be able to effectively engage in spiritual practices. Take care of yourself in all three realms and reap the benefits of being more connected to your Higher Power, True Self, and those around you.

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