nurturing your spiritual journey robert c. atchley, ph.d

Nurturing Your Spiritual Journey

Robert C. Atchley, Ph.D.

We are spiritual beings.

We are on a Spiritual Journey.

To appreciate the spiritual journey, we must be conscious of it.

What is our responsibility toward the spiritual journey?

Conscious journeys involve preparations, provisions, and traveling companions.

Preparation is ongoing and cumulative.

Provisions are materials we keep close by on the spiritual journey – books, tapes, images, materials involved in spiritual practices.

Pointing fingers are important.

Motivation comes from the fulfilling nature of the spiritual journey.

People who have spiritual experiences usually want to have more.

Motivation also comes from an growing experience of deeper meaning.

Our experience of meaning comes from sense, significance, and purpose.

Spirituality is a region of one’s inner life.

Spirituality is a capacity to see the spiritual dimensions of what we experience.

Spiritual Capacity develops through experience.

Spiritual Experiences have particular Qualities.

Three Types of Awareness

Present-Moment

Transcending the Personal Self

Openness to the Sacred

Qualities of Spiritual Experience

Wonder Playfulness

Compassion Humor

Clarity Openness

Aliveness Expansiveness

Mystery Beauty

Stillness Well-being

Silence Energy

Appreciation Groundedness

Wonder

Stillness

Majesty

Playfulness

Peace

Mystery

Beauty

What other qualities would you put on your list?

Spiritual Journeys are stories that summarize how we became the spiritual beings we are today.

Spiritual intentions express our spiritual sense of direction.

Spiritual intentions are not fixed, but instead are adaptable and responsive to what we learn from experience.

The curriculum for the spiritual journey is shaped by enduring questions.

Enduring Questions

What is my spiritual nature?

What makes an experience spiritual?

How does spirituality manifest in my world?

What do I think about my spiritual journey?

Do I want spirituality to be a central factor in my life decisions?

What other questions would you add to your list?

Spiritual Growth happens both gradually and in spurts.

Growth Cycles

Awakening Interest

Inquiry

Endeavor

Integration

Intention

Striving for spiritual growth is a double-edged sword.

How do we maintain motivation without creating expectations?

Growing Spiritually is hard. It usually involves commitment, discipline, and coping with discomfort.

Spiritual Practices focus attention toward spiritual experience and toward spiritual capacity.

Be patient and loving toward your imperfection.

Spiritual Community nurtures spiritual capacity, experience, and expression.

Spiritual Community provides honest, loving, and constructive feedback.

Spiritual Friendship creates Spiritual Intimacy.

Spiritual education and other programs provide stimulation, respite, and motivation.

The Spiritual Journey has no destination.

The Spiritual Journey encourages letting go and opening up.

Yet spiritual journeys require strength and a sense of purpose.

Spiritual Journeys are usually done with traveling companions.

“When we clearly see, we are drawn to BE LOVE and to SERVE.”

BON VOYAGE !

For electronic copies of handouts, email me.

bobatchley@hotmail.com