The Pandemic of Spiritual Neglect
What exactly is spiritual neglect?
Growing up in a Christian home I was taught how to say a prayer but I wasn’t taught how to be present with God. I learned how to communicate to God but I didn’t learn how to commune in the holy presence of God.
When we don’t know how to be in the presence of the Divine, it can manifests as an internal void that we feel within ourselves. Most of the time, this empty space goes unnoticed. But the disconnection is definitely felt and often plays out in various detrimental ways.
In our rapidly-advancing culture, we are surrounded by a myriad of things vying for our attention. Social media, the film and entertainment industry, and trending social apps and outlets. These examples of societal programming are created to capture our attention and influence us in one direction or another. And by default, we often unconsciously look to these external things to fill the spiritual void we feel within, distract us from it, or numb it altogether.
Once we consciously identify this void, we can address it in a healthy way that empowers us thus creating a more fulfilling life. When we authentically open up ourselves to an exceptionally rich, prime relationship with the Divine, it sets a beautiful standard and guides all other relatable things in our lives.
What are the symptoms of spiritual neglect?
Anger/Frustration
Anxiety
Disconnection
Sadness/Depression
Detachment from the physical body is also a common symptom. Oftentimes, people who feel a strong internal void will wittingly or unwittingly do harm to their body, sometimes resulting in injury, illness or dis-ease.
How can we fill this void in a healthy way?
Set an intention to spend time in the present moment with Holy Divine Presence. Make an effort to do this at least once a day. ASK if you can’t focus and need help connecting. Divine Creator is always with us.
Here are some other ideas to help cultivate your relationship with Divine Creator:
Spend time observing nature. View the sunrise or sunset. Watch the incoming ocean tide. Gaze at the snow falling outside a window. Witness the magnificent beauty of the natural world around you.
Sit in silence or meditation. B R E A T H E deeply. Just BE.
Give yourself some Love. A warm bath, a foot soak, a facial. Give yourself a hug and say, “I love you”. You are a holy creation of Divine Intelligence.
Seek spiritual guidance from a trusted source who can answer questions you may have and/or encourage you along your path.
Most importantly, observe how you feel in your body when you are engaged in an activity or conversation with someone. After you end a conversation... after you watch a television show… or after you leave a place, ask yourself these three questions:
1. “How do I feel in my body right now?”
2. “Do I feel uplifted?”
3. “Do I feel depleted?”
If you feel joyful and uplifted, do more of that! If you feel drained, confused or depressed, it would be wise to make a different choice.
Our spiritual health is a lot like our physical health. It takes dedication and work. If we are mindful of the things we engage in and what we consume, our health inevitably improves with a balanced sense of peace, joy and well-being. And the internal void becomes a well-spring of Life!