| The Introduction to spirituality happens in many ways | | | | don't like the way he is and what he does I may |
| and usually enters our lives when we become very | | | | choose not to be with him! The good news was that |
| dissatisfied with answers our belief system provides. | | | | usually when we change the people around us will |
| Without even realizing on a conscious level we start | | | | 'change' as well, eg. they will start treating us and |
| searching for something new and different by asking | | | | behaving around us differently. Eureka! I thought, now I |
| questions and not receiving satisfying solutions. | | | | will tell everyone to read it and we all will be happy! |
| Depending on your background you may embrace the | | | | People, even the closest to us, won't react the way |
| new and startling ideas and dive into unlimited ocean of | | | | we would like them to, for many many reasons, and |
| new theories or you may struggle from the very | | | | everyone needs their own reason . None of the ways |
| beginning trying to free yourself from rules and beliefs | | | | is better than the other, they just different like each of |
| rooted very deeply in your upbringing. | | | | us is. I believe the important thing is to remember that it |
| Example: I was brought up as a Catholic, not very | | | | is your own journey and even your closest friend or |
| strict though. Through my primary school I was | | | | soul mate doesn't have to share it with you. What |
| attending religion classes which gave me very basic | | | | works for you doesn't have to work for them, which is |
| knowledge of what was expected of me as far as | | | | absolutely o.k. and there's nothing wrong with any of |
| faith in God was concerned. I could never comprehend | | | | you. You are unique, and so is the other person so, |
| the idea of an omnipotent God who usually took from | | | | please, do yourself a favour and accept the fact that |
| the ones who had little and gave more to those who | | | | a spiritual journey is a very personal experience and |
| already had plenty anyway and was called loving and | | | | different for each of us and as such could be lonely |
| just at the same time; God who knew everything | | | | some times. Of course, we'll be exchanging and |
| about me, every single thought and intention (not | | | | sharing stories and experiences with like minded |
| always the noblest ones) which produced enormous | | | | people, giving assurance to the ones struggling with |
| fear of him as he supposed to reward and punish | | | | what we already know and listening to the ones who |
| accordingly, but the biggest challenge was to love him | | | | already experienced what we are actually going |
| with all my heart! That was too much even for my 10 | | | | through. |
| years old brain to accept and I usually despised and | | | | Some of us will succeed quicker in some areas than |
| blamed him for everything what went wrong in my life. | | | | others. The main point is though not to compare as |
| Of course, this is very simplified but even so can set | | | | each of us, even each of two siblings (the same |
| you for life! | | | | parents, the same upbringing rules), have different |
| So the unconscious search begins because you start | | | | subconscious programming and limitations, eg. your one |
| questioning and new ideas arrive 'knocking' on your | | | | year older brother may have problems with forming |
| mind. It can happen in so many ways; through a book, | | | | good relationships while you may find yourself |
| movie, internet, someone says a word which will ignite | | | | impossible to be financially successful. |
| your interest or may be through a significant event. | | | | It's very tempting at this stage, when we gain some |
| However it will happen it leads us further and we will | | | | understanding but not enough to comprehend a bigger |
| be seeking more and more consciously, with a growing | | | | picture, to fall into believing that any solution will be the |
| hope of finding The Truth. We grasp the first bit of | | | | right one for us. As I said earlier we're all different and |
| information and we feel like rediscovering the world | | | | so different things and ideas will work not only for |
| again! Finally we found the answers, we're going to | | | | different people but also at different times in our lives. |
| share them with every one we know and soon we all | | | | Often we're simply not ready yet for some solutions. |
| be happy for ever after! Will we? Not quite, not that | | | | The beautiful part of it is when something does work |
| simple. | | | | you become almost as an observer to what is |
| Example: In my case it happened through a book. | | | | happening to you, it feels as it meant to be, the results |
| Looking back now, I can recognize that I was obviously | | | | are astonishing, the change easy and simple, the truth |
| 'ready' and well prepared by life by that time. The book | | | | obvious and when you look back you cannot believe |
| was titled 'Being Happy' by Andrew Matthews, quite | | | | what and why was so hard in the first place. Nobody |
| funny and very easy to read but at the same time it | | | | can really tell you how much you have to learn and |
| opened my eyes and changed me and my life. I was | | | | experience, how long it will take and when will you |
| married for ten years and was working persistently on | | | | reach the 'finishing line'. As a matter of fact there's no |
| my husband to change, with different results depending | | | | such thing as with every bit of new understanding |
| where we were in our marriage. I used to use phrases | | | | another level of spiritual inadequacy will be uncovered |
| like 'you have to', 'you can't,'how could you?', etc. And | | | | and you will never finish the learning because the |
| suddenly I'm reading that the only person I can change | | | | journey is a goal in itself. |
| is me! And that he doesn't have to, and he can and if I | | | | |