Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Set spiritual goals
• Method 2 of 3: Consult spiritual sources
• Method 3 of 3: Perform spiritual exercises

A spiritual journey is a journey you take to discover who you are, what your problems in life are, and how you can come to peace with the world. The purpose of a spiritual journey is rarely to find an answer; rather it is a process of constant questioning. This article does not tell you what your spiritual journey should be like, but it offers you tools that you may find important in structuring your journey.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Set spiritual goals

1. Understand that your journey is yours alone. Everyone's spiritual journey is unique, whether done in response to difficult challenges or uplifting opportunities. Yet many spiritual journeys will use similar aids or follow similar paths. Remember, while the advice of others can be helpful, no one can tell you how your journey should go, or in which direction to go.
   • You are ultimately responsible for the direction of your journey. If any of the steps in this guide are causing you stress or harm, skip it for now and find an alternative that will help you rethink your life.
   • No religion holds the truth. If a religion or its followers begin to control or scare you, consider stepping back and consulting another source.
2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. While this may seem like planning ahead, your journey begins now. Make an inventory of your thoughts, feelings, fears and expectations. Write down your thoughts about daily life and your long-term thoughts. Read your notes each week and think about your achievements and challenges for the week. Use this as an exercise to put your concerns, hopes, and ambitions in context.
   • Such a practice is often referred to as a "mindfulness journal". Its purpose is to reveal to you the thought patterns that control your life, possibly in a negative way, so that you can focus on transforming them.
3. Make a number of goals your priority. The mindfulness journal can help organize your thoughts about goal setting. Spiritual journeys can help those who want to be calmer and less angry, who are fearful of death, who want to increase their sense of wonder about the world, or who are struggling to leave an old belief system behind. Whatever you decide to focus on, this is your journey and it will help you heal or change you.
   • Prioritize what interests you both intellectually and emotionally; Think about what you are curious about as well as what you could change to lead a healthier life. Spiritual journeys can include intellectual as well as emotional aspects of your life.
   • Remember that spiritual goals can take a lifetime to be achieved, and they often change over time. Don't set a deadline for your goals or get stressed by them.
4. Decide on the scope of your trip. Do you have a challenge that you need help with? Or are you looking for a long-term personal transformation? Are you looking for a meditative practice to add to your routine or are you in a serious crisis of faith? Understand in advance how drastic your journey can be; like therapy, a spiritual journey can take all of your attention in changing your relationship with the world, or may require just a little time and attention.
   • Many spiritual journeys are lifelong affairs that continually build on themselves. Spirituality is a crucial part of life, and is almost never separate from it. Change the range of your trip if necessary.

Method 2 of 3: Consult spiritual sources

1. Read sacred texts. Religious texts such as the Bible, the Torah, the Quaran, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita or the Upanishads can give you a new outlook on life or open your eyes to the beliefs or thoughts of other people. While you don't have to adhere to particular teachings in religious texts, you can better understand the context of your questions and struggles by understanding how spiritual questions have been asked throughout history. Reading sacred texts can also point you in new directions, allowing you to ask questions you could not have expressed before.
   • Perhaps a good idea to supplement your studies with certain courses. Universities, public schools, and continuing education centers offer courses on the history of religious practices and texts.
   • If you read scientific texts in addition to sacred texts, you should be aware that there is a difference between them theology and "religious studies". Religious studies can be thought of as studying religion from the outside, whereas theology is often written by practitioners of that religion.
2. Consult public services that focus on spirituality. Certain prominent persons can act as a resource or guide for your spiritual journey. An obvious option is the leader of a local church or clergy; these individuals often talk to other people to help them make decisions. Before talking to such a leader, it can be helpful to attend a few services or events to understand the attitudes that underlie the beliefs of that community.
   • Other community organizations may employ chaplains who are skilled guides on specific topics, such as grief or loss.
   • Such institutions include hospitals or military outposts, but you may need to be a regular user of their services to consult with their chaplain.
3. Read or listen to known spiritual sources. There are many well-known writers and speakers who convey spiritual or religious ideas in a way that makes sense for everyday life. You can find helpful books in the "Spirituality", "Religion" or "New Age" section of bookstores or libraries. Seminars and reading groups can be held by colleges or community centers near you. Public radio and online podcasts are often good sources of programs that present research, criticism, and discussion of spiritual ideas.
   • Avoid people who actively solicit financial support, promise reliable answers, or make sales. Often they don't consider your spiritual journey a priority.
   • If you can afford it, traveling to retreats, camps, and spiritual hangouts can be a healthy way to broaden your horizons and meet new people.
4. Don't be afraid to tap into the support of the community. While the stereotypical image of the spiritual traveler is a monk praying alone, your spiritual journey can be enriched by involving others. Talk to friends or family members about your questions or the ideas you are trying to refine. Attend local meetings or study groups that focus on the topic you are working on. Whether you're trying to improve on a skill, such as mindfulness or meditation, or become more culturally savvy, learning from others can make the process more fulfilling.
   • Not only is this a way to find mentors, it can also lead to you becoming a mentor to others yourself, which can enrich your journey.

Method 3 of 3: Perform spiritual exercises

1. Meditate. Meditation can help you deeply explore your self-esteem, calm fears, and clear your thoughts. It is a technique of focusing and refining how one focuses on oneself. Meditation does not have to be performed sitting cross-legged on the floor; there are variants such as walking meditation, and many religions have their own form of self-reflection.
   • Yoga can add a physical part to contemplation and can help clarify your spiritual goals.
   • There are many different types of meditation. They can be learned and practiced in a social setting, be it spiritual meeting places or meditation groups that meet regularly and are led by an expert. These meetings are often free or ask for a small donation.
2. Incorporate exercise into your spiritual life. In some religions the body is seen as a temple to the mind, so maintaining your temple makes sense from a spiritual point of view. In fact, regular exercise can increase our mental abilities, relieve mild depression, and promote positive thinking. A holistic and balanced approach to life, including exercise, can keep a person engaged and in tune with the world, increase mindfulness and improve quality of life.
   • Exercise doesn't have to be exhausting. Moderate exercise, spread over the week, can keep a person's body fit and in shape.
3. Create spaces for reflection. Quiet spaces where you can contemplate life can protect you from the daily intake of information and stress. In universities and workplaces, aspects of nature, movement and rhythm, silence and relaxation are integrated to improve mindfulness and orientation. Creating a comfortable space in your home, office, or dorm where you can go to process the day's events can promote your mental well-being.
   • Reflection rooms can contain pictures, icons and posters, scents (such as incense or flowers), and silence or otherwise meditative music.
4. Explore alternative states of consciousness. Recent research on psychoactive plants (such as psilocybin mushrooms, DMT and marijuana) indicates that they can promote openness and a more accepting personality, even after one use. Mostly associated with shamanism and the counterculture of the 1960s, these types of plants contain drugs that are the subject of intensive pharmaceutical research for their ability to positively influence thought patterns and relieve chronic stress. Intelligent use of psychoactive substances can improve or enrich spiritual practices and insights.
   • Possession or cultivation of these plants is illegal in many parts of the world.
   • Psychedelic drugs are known to carry the risk of a "bad trip", which can cause users to become mentally confused or disoriented. Psychoactive substances can still be very beneficial if they are used sparingly, deliberately and in a limited way.
5. Visit sacred sites. Sacred sites are often historically significant sites where important religious events or practices took place. Sacred sites include a wide range of sites, many of which are well visited throughout the year (such as Stonehenge or the Vatican), while others may be of interest only to historians (such as certain cathedrals). Sacred sites are often large in scale and give visitors a sense of the sublime. Because of their extraordinary nature, sacred sites can help strengthen spiritual understanding in your life and increase your appreciation for history.
   • Some sacred sites are associated with sacred events, such as the hajj. Perhaps useful to tailor your visit to religious calendars.
6. Examine yourself! Keep an eye on how your practice and research affects your thinking. The mindfulness journal is an important spiritual resource - it keeps you in touch with your findings, your doubts, and new aspects of your beliefs and your place in the world. Notice when negative thinking increases or decreases as you investigate, and change what you investigate and the way you do it based on these changes.
   • The spiritual journey is there to serve you, and while it may not be comfortable at times, you should find how it improves your relationship with yourself, others, and your sense of compassion.