Presentation of my spiritual journey

[Guest guest]

Today at my Quaker meeting I had the honor of presenting my spiritual journey.In preparation for this it occurred to me that my journey is really the story of my history moving either towards or away from my spiritual values (cf fruits of the spirit).  For me these values include such things as love, patience, kindness, gentleness, peace, compassion etc.

When speaking to groups of people I often have the sense that I am not really communicating very well.  Placing my experience in the context of the history of my moves away and towards my spiritual values seemed to me to make for honest and effective communication. Among the benefits of looking at my spiritual journey this way is that I was able to be honest with my away moves (limitations, mistakes, errors [sins?]) without lapsing into the negative, unhelpful and depressing focus thereon.  Also it kept me away from comparing or encouraging others to compare their experiences with mine.

Thoughts, comments?

[Guest guest]

I found the biggest thing abouting starting ANY journey is to simply give

yourself permission to do so, without material reward, other than a commitment

to commit energy and time and maybe spend money on something which I hope would

bring me more wisdom or insight into something or to answer my own inquiries.

We are all living forward, sometimes in search of answers to something. Its when

we suppress our inner search or inquiry say out of shame, or lack of time, or it

doesn't matter stance, or there is no financial reward from the search thoughts,

it's when we deny our own inner quest, that's when we get into trouble.

Tom

>

> Today at my Quaker meeting I had the honor of presenting my spiritual

> journey.

>

> In preparation for this it occurred to me that my journey is really the

> story of my history moving either towards or away from my spiritual values

> (cf fruits of the spirit). For me these values include such things as

> love, patience, kindness, gentleness, peace, compassion etc.

>

> When speaking to groups of people I often have the sense that I am not

> really communicating very well. Placing my experience in the context of

> the history of my moves away and towards my spiritual values seemed to me

> to make for honest and effective communication. Among the benefits of

> looking at my spiritual journey this way is that I was able to be honest

> with my away moves (limitations, mistakes, errors [sins?]) without lapsing

> into the negative, unhelpful and depressing focus thereon. Also it kept me

> away from comparing or encouraging others to compare their experiences with

> mine.

>

> Thoughts, comments?

>

[Guest guest]

........I like that Jerry, I think it's a good idea, to put spiritual values in the context of away and towards. I have never thought of that in regards to spirituality - that would certainly be a useful point for me to consider on my own journey. Also what I have found useful of late, as well as thinking of 'towards and away' from values is 'inside and outside'.

Checking inside myself, the landscape may be dark, rocky, scared, constricted. Checking outside myself, the clock may be ticking, the washing machine humming, the dog quietly padding from room to room. Now what do I focus on? Inside or outside? I can acknowledge the inside is sometimes grim ( not always) and redirect my attention to the outside - to some valued pursuit. Just saying 'inside, outside' to myself' can shift that stuck energy.

Good luck with your presentation!

Simone

To: act_for_the_public <act_for_the_public > Sent: Monday, 5 December 2011, 4:07Subject: Presentation of my spiritual journey

Today at my Quaker meeting I had the honor of presenting my spiritual journey.

In preparation for this it occurred to me that my journey is really the story of my history moving either towards or away from my spiritual values (cf fruits of the spirit). For me these values include such things as love, patience, kindness, gentleness, peace, compassion etc.

When speaking to groups of people I often have the sense that I am not really communicating very well. Placing my experience in the context of the history of my moves away and towards my spiritual values seemed to me to make for honest and effective communication. Among the benefits of looking at my spiritual journey this way is that I was able to be honest with my away moves (limitations, mistakes, errors [sins?]) without lapsing into the negative, unhelpful and depressing focus thereon. Also it kept me away from comparing or encouraging others to compare their experiences with mine.

Thoughts, comments?

[Guest guest]

The idea of towards and away moves with values does seem to clarify situations, in my opinion.   Especially with spiritual values which can be quite 'nebulous' and 'look'different for different people.

 Looking at our own journey from this perspective places the focus very clearly upon ourselves andour behaviour. If done with a sense of compassion towards ourselves I can see it as being very helpful.

 Thank you for sharing this Jerry. 

 

Today at my Quaker meeting I had the honor of presenting my spiritual journey.In preparation for this it occurred to me that my journey is really the story of my history moving either towards or away from my spiritual values (cf fruits of the spirit).  For me these values include such things as love, patience, kindness, gentleness, peace, compassion etc.

When speaking to groups of people I often have the sense that I am not really communicating very well.  Placing my experience in the context of the history of my moves away and towards my spiritual values seemed to me to make for honest and effective communication. Among the benefits of looking at my spiritual journey this way is that I was able to be honest with my away moves (limitations, mistakes, errors [sins?]) without lapsing into the negative, unhelpful and depressing focus thereon.  Also it kept me away from comparing or encouraging others to compare their experiences with mine.

Thoughts, comments?