“If you want to change some things in your life, you’ve got to change some things in your life!”
I don’t remember what conference I was at or who specifically said it, but I’m glad the motivational speaker that said this challenged me in the way that they did.
I have decided that I’m going to live each day determined to make it spiritually enriching. What that means to me and my definition of spiritually authentic life – and enriching each day that I live – will likely be different for you.
Each new day provides an opportunity to further develop your own unique definition of spirituality and how you’re going to create and manifest your spiritually authentic life. Each and every day gives you a fresh start – one in which you can affirm:
I live each day in such a way that my spirit benefits from my experiences.
Spiritual enrichment can be accomplished in your life by developing and encouraging healthy and helpful associations with others. Who are the people in your life that encourage and empower you to be your best self – even when you may not be entirely sure what that is?
Which of your friends and/or associates bring out the best in you? They’re
the ones that keep telling you that you can stretch and grow, exhort you to keep trying to overcome your limits, and they’re also the people who are there when you need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.
Enriching your spirit can show up as your being able to extend your hand and heart to a noble cause in your community, or supporting a cause far beyond your community that helps you to feel fulfilled.
Those warm and fuzzy feelings that overcome you when you cause someone to smile, give an unexpected compliment or lend a hand to someone in need also enrich YOUR spirit, and strengthen your sense of authenticity.
Though many other people seem to spend time focusing on gaining popularity or financial wealth, you can CHOOSE to spend part of your time working for something more long-lasting. Material things that are valued highly in segments of our society are often fleeting and rarely stir one’s soul to massive, life-changing action. They are superficial for the most part and have trouble reaching the deeper parts of our souls and spirits.
Striving to live an honest, authentic life isn’t a bad way to spend your time – in fact, creating and manifesting a spiritually authentic life, with all that means to YOU, could serve as a flexible and long-lived mantra. When you are sincere and speak with integrity, you can experience peace of mind, and the positive growth that serves to expand and enrich your spirituality and your spiritual practice.
Being able to say – honestly and with commitment – that your heart is clear is a wonderful feeling that can guide you toward spiritual authenticity.
Part of developing a Spiritually Authentic life is to make and take time for what matters. When you get home from work, no matter what kind of day you’ve had, intentionally spend some time meditating or reflecting. Give yourself the gift of time and quietness to process what’s happened during 
the day, and to help you gain perspective. This is also a good time to start or continue a journaling habit to help you process your emotions and actions.
Thinking consciously and intentionally about my actions allows me to be accountable.
If you’re not used to doing this in an in-depth manner, it may take some time to adjust to doing it, but continuing the practice on a daily basis will serve you well as it becomes a positive, productive habit.
Whenever I am displeased with my actions or my motivation, I commit to evaluating my actions and my motivation to completely understand why I did what I did and then commit to adjusting my mindset to avoid such actions and motivations in the future. Working on my spirit is an ongoing 
job and one that I enjoy, because it helps me to realize my potential as a constantly evolving human being, and it helps to enrich my spirit.
Making today on that enriches my spirit means doing and saying things that are authentically ME – things that I’m not ashamed to claim and that leaves me feeling good about myself, my motivations, and my actions.
When I commit to positive action and behavior, and to evaluate my actions and behavior on a consistent basis, my soul becomes light, because I’m refusing to carry the “baggage” of my mistakes from the past into my present or my future. I celebrate the spiritual growth that I experience on a daily basis.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What are some other activities besides meditation I enjoy that build my spirit?
- How can I involve willing and supportive friends and family members on my journey to spiritual enrichment?
- What are some of the behaviors that I am able to change to encourage even more positivity?
