What are your goals in life? Maybe it’s to get a degree, to have more money, to get married, or to have children. While these goals are all incredibly important, we often neglect the most important goal of all: to understand who we are and who we want to become.
Each of our souls has a unique purpose in the world, a gift we are meant to reveal through our spiritual work. There has never been another soul with the potential that yours has. But the only way to reveal that gift is through self-development.
Here are 3 steps to help focus your energy on pursuing your spiritual journey:
1. Write a life mission statement. Every successful business has a mission statement, a sentence, or paragraph reflecting their core beliefs, values, and aspirations. It is meant to focus their efforts and inspire confidence in their employees. What if we approached our lives like a successful business?
Creating a mission statement to live your life by provides a reference point to look back on in times of uncertainty, keep things on track in the face of adversity, and provide insight into your aspirations and the life you intend to live.
No matter your age, it’s important to think about your values, what you believe, and your spiritual mission. Who do you want to be in the next 5, 10, or 15 years?
2. Make a list of traits you need to develop. Now that you have a vision for yourself, it’s time to start developing a plan on how to get there. Many good people do good things in the world but don’t think about developing themselves spiritually. As a result, no matter how much good they do in the world or how much success they achieve, it pales in comparison to the unique gift they were meant to manifest. A successful businessman who develops a multibillion-dollar company may have been meant to speak from his heart and write a book that inspired people in a different way.
List out the traits that you want to both develop and diminish in order to become that even greater version of yourself.
3. Focus on being proactive instead of reactive. When people think about spirituality, they tend to think that if they are giving, charitable people, they will automatically become better and more fulfilled people. But doing these things without the right consciousness won’t necessarily elevate and grow your soul.
Sometimes we are so focused on just surviving and getting through the day that our lives can become completely based on just reacting. We become preoccupied with getting to work on time, getting our assignments done, getting home, getting dinner ready, to the point that we forget what it feels like to be alive.
We all have responsibilities, of course, but we can still get things done while constantly checking in with ourselves. Two people can do the exact same thing but with a different awareness. One parent might think, “I have to get my kids ready for school before they’re late,” while another can approach the situation as, “I am going to help my kids succeed today and share with them however I can.”
Ask yourself: what percentage of my day is reactive versus proactive? While you are commuting, what are you thinking about? Are you rushed and stressed, or are you appreciating the job that pays you, the beautiful sky above you, and the people you get to help today?
Rather than constantly focusing on the next thing on your to-do list, be in the moment. Listen to the people around you and appreciate who you are with, whether it’s your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, or anyone else in your life. Live consciously and be aware of being in each moment, no matter where you find yourself.
You have a unique Light that only you can reveal in this world. Start manifesting that Light by setting spiritual goals, creating a plan, and being present.
