Spirituality can be defined in a wide variety of ways. For many seekers, it’s about connecting with something greater than yourself. You might call it God / Goddess, Spirit, the universe, the Divine, or nature. Whatever words you choose to describe it, it’s an experience that gives deeper meaning to your daily routines and ordinary actions.

While searching for something sacred can produce dramatic results, the process can also be simple. It doesn’t require extensive therapy or taking a year off work to trek through Tibet – it can be much easier than that, much simpler than that, and below, I’ve got some ideas for you that you can implement as soon as you finish reading this post.

Try one of these 15 ways to live more spiritually, starting right where you are now.

The Inward Journey:

  1. Accept yourself, who, and where you are right now. Recognize that you ARE worthy of love and happiness, of fulfilling your dreams and desires, and of many, many good things. Embrace your strengths and your weaknesses – they’re all a part of what makes you, YOU. Give yourself credit for your efforts – even when they don’t turn out like you think they will – and learn to enjoy your own company.
  2. Develop self-compassion. Really examine – look closely – at how you gray concrete tomb stone with no peoplespeak to yourself. Choose kind and inspiring words instead of negative or mean words. Forgive yourself for past decisions – let them go – and move on from the past. Beating yourself up about the past is NOT showing self-compassion, and it won’t change a thing. Treat yourself extra gently when you’re struggling.
  3. Set intentions. Plant powerful positive intentions in your mind. Identify the things that you want most in your life and what you want to contribute to the world and set your plans for them. Dwell on your dreams, your vision, and what’s possible instead of the opposite.
  4. Use affirmations. Create empowering, positive statements that strengthen your motivation, boost your energy, and encourage you – turn one of your intentions from step 3 into an affirmation. Speak of the positive result you want as if it’s happening right now – present tense – and repeat them throughout your day. Ensure that your affirmations are positive, specific, and written such that you create the belief that it’s happening now.
    5. Create rituals. Spend your first and last moments of the day person holding green leafcultivating your spiritual side. You could pray, meditate, list the things that you’re grateful for, or set the tone for your sleep time by affirming what you want in your dreams while you’re sleeping.
    6. Think positively. Look on the bright side of your activities and relationships. Focus on what you like about your coworkers and neighbors, the people you see or interact with on your way through your day, your family, etc. Noticing the positive things helps the negative recede into the distance.
    7. Be mindful – Make conscious choices instead of going through life on autopilot. Notice your habitual reactions and ask yourself if there are more constructive, positive solutions that you could try. You might praise your children instead of nagging them or empathize with your boss instead of arguing with them or even use a different route home that will give you the opportunity to see beauty instead of excess traffic.

The Outward Journey:

  1. Slow down. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to appreciate life when you’re rushing around. Stop for a few moments and pay attention to your breathing – is it fast and shallow, or deep and restorative? Focus on one task at a time and discover the joys of being fully present.
  2. Limit distractions. Cut down on activities that drain your time and provide little to no lasting satisfaction. Track how much time you spend watching TV or checking social media, and if you just need a break from more serious activities, set a timer and stick to it – a 10-minute social media break can be just what you need in a long day, but don’t let it turn into a 30-minute distraction.
  3. Smile and laugh. Spirituality can be fun! Look for humor in girl in white and yellow shirtchallenging situations and be willing to laugh at yourself or others as you conquer the challenges and move on.
  4. Practice self-care. Protect your physical health and well-being by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and sleeping well. Research and implement accessible ways to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance to enhance your emotional and psychological health as well.
  5. Build a community. Reach out to others with similar spiritual interests and values. If you’re part of an organized faith community – a church or house of worship – participate actively in events and discussions or start a new activity that interests you. If you’re looking for new friends, try going to retreats, author talks, theatre events, or Meetup groups in your community.
  6. Find a teacher. Do you feel like you would benefit from some instruction and guidance? Search online for meditation centers and yoga studios where you can find someone to work with or ask for referrals. You can also find courses and self-study opportunities online that meet using videoconferencing so you can see and interact with your fellow students.
  7. Encourage cooperation – Nurture strong and supportive two women hugging each otherrelationships with your family, friends, and coworkers to benefit everyone. Work on your communication and listening skills in the groups, intentionally concentrating on what others say to make you a better listener. Be generous with sharing your time and resources, and others will reach out to do the same for you.
  8. Take risks. A spiritual journey involves challenging your self-imposed limitations, changing an old “soundtrack” from your past experiences, and embracing uncertainty. You may sometimes feel uncomfortable as you look more deeply into yourself and question your assumptions, but the rewards are worth it, and you’ll gain so much more by stretching and growing into your new, chosen spiritual path.

Find meaning and purpose by welcoming a greater sense of spirituality into your life – implement one or more of these suggestions for 21 to 28 days to help you create a new, positive habit.

Changing your daily habits to live more spiritually can transform the way you see the world and help you to discover more bliss and mental clarity.

About the Author Dianne Daniels

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and currently residing in Norwich, Connecticut, Dianne M. Daniels' mission is to empower women 50+ to Amplify their Self-Confidence, Deepen their Self-Knowledge, Inspire Creativity, and Glide into the next phase of their lives with the Power of Journaling, Affirmations, and Assessments.

You can learn how to use these time-tested proven practices to create and manifest the life you want (and deserve) to live.

Dianne is an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. She's an avid reader, a lover of old houses (she renovated an 1850s vintage Greek Revival home with her family) and has been journaling since the age of 9.

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