Practical spirituality is essential to live a whole, healthy, and integrated lifestyle. Your spirit/soul is actually the source of your “consciousness,” the root of your awareness, and the spark of life that is the core, real YOU. If you ignore it, it can negatively impact your overall wellness, peace of mind, and meaning to life.
I’m of the belief that if I can’t use it now while I’m alive and able to impact the lives of others and our planet, spirituality is not of much practical use. If we are so “heavenly bound” that we are not “earthly good,” what’s the point? – Unless, of course, you see the two as separate and escaping the earth as your primary focus. I see more and more the power of living as a whole, human BEING, – spirit as human. This is the next level of “self-actualization” – to realize that you are more than “only human.”
Also, that spirituality is to benefit the here and now. Quantum physics helps to support that there is a whole other level to life beyond what we see with our limited five senses.
Tip number one would be feed your spirit and soul, the source of your genius. Stop living as a “doing machine,” as this is a great source of stress. Take time, even if only 15 minutes, to just “be” and begin to reconnect with your true inner essence. Mindfulness meditation is a tool that has even been shown in science to be powerfully effective on many practical levels for well-being.
The second tip is to recognize the sheer power of your intuition. Our culture has traditionally disrespected this powerful sixth sense that is a natural human characteristic. Sometimes men call it “gut” instinct – it’s the same thing. It can save your life and be a source of innovative ideas. Intuition is a connection to the “voice” of spirit.
Einstein said it best, decades ago: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
The last tip is to recognize that a healthy spirituality comes from a place of love and connection. Anything that creates fear and separation is suspect for ego interference. Ego, the sense of brain-constructed self-identity, tends to dwell in the land of fear and separation. It is focused on survival.
This is critical because if you are in fear you are draining your adrenal glands, and stress is connected to 90% of diseases. Stress contributes to everything from headaches to cancer. Yet, a practical spirituality practice can balance this out, as when one is self-aware enough to notice the beauty of others and our earth, life can take on a richer and deeper meaning.
There’s less competitive fear and repetitive worries. You will not feel alone, and you are more likely to feel the inner joy of your True Nature. This is our natural state. Fear is ego-created and perpetuated.
Valencia Ray, M.D. teaches business owners and corporate leaders how their amazing brain can actually hijack personal power -- not in the abstract, but in the context of integrating business and personal life. Dr. Ray, a board-certified eye surgeon and medical business owner for over 20 years before selling her practice, shares her own life changing process. By sharing her story, she helps others to expand their vision and learn that by living with purpose and confidence, it is possible to have a more integrated, healthier lifestyle – with less struggle, more inner peace and more abundance.
For more information and to contact her regarding dynamic, inspirational keynotes, trainings in collaborative leadership and team building, entrepreneurship and coaching programs, visit her website at http://www.ValenciaRay.com