The Inner Path: The Spiritual Bliss of Silence

Very often, we're surrounded with noise all day long and we keep moving from one task to the other without taking a break to think, to reflect or to undertake a detailed examination of our own feelings. But all these things really do require silence.  And, even in our busy lives, we just cannot underestimate the importance of silence in our daily lives.  

Here are some ways silence can benefit our lives.

• Silence gives your mind space for introspection

• Silence helps you to build awareness about your innermost thoughts

• Silence brings clarity to thought

• The clarity of silence gives you time to make wise choices

• Wise choices will ultimately lead to a beautiful life

The Inner Path: It's Basically Spiritual

 At some point, the illusion breaks down and the opening for the start of the spiritual quest commences. The quest turns from without to within and the search for answers begins.~ David R. Hawkins


Spirituality is a discovery of the deeper values and meanings in one's life and often times, means something different to everyone. For many, practicing spirituality is intended to develop their inner life by participating in organized religion; going to church, synagogue, a mosque, etc. And while religion implies a particular faith, spirituality is not necessarily bound to any particular religious tradition and can fit quite well in the religious realm, that is, by mixing your denominations; Baptists, Catholic, Judeo, etc with yoga, meditation and others. 

For others, spirituality is more personal:

The Inner Path: Balancing You Life!

As much as you would like to think that you have things all "under control" you're really getting bent more and more out of shape, and because you have so many dimensions to your life; your family, friends, career, health, finances, personal and spiritual growth, - maintaining balance among them all can be very difficult.  And, to make things worst, when one area is given a heap of attention.... the others suffer.  You want to make things better, but you don't know where to start or how to figure what's really out of balance. I want to help you figure it out....it's the "Life Wheel".  The Life Wheel is a tool to help you get a picture of where your life might be out of balance.  I used this wheel when I came across the Make My Christian Life Work site.  It's a Christian based blog and one of the things I like about it is the section on balancing your life. The life wheel gave me a visual to help determine where my life was out of balance and I know it will help you too.

How to use the "Life Wheel" below:

1. Notice each area listed on the wheel. Feel free to add or change areas or titles to better fit your life.
2. Rate each area listed on the wheel on a scale from 1-10; where 1=totally unhappy and 10=great.
3. How would you rate your life?
4. After you give each area a score, color it in for the title being rated, up to the assigned number.
5. See whether your "wheel" is round and able to roll.
6. Where your wheel is not round, gives you a picture of which areas of life you need to start to focus.

makemychristianlifework.com

Now, the goal is to bring all areas of your life to about the same level so it's in balance. You can use this life wheel anytime you think your life is out of balance or when there are event changes in your life, such as, the birth of a baby, going from single to married life, married to single or even  career  changes.  You will find that as you start to improve on the life wheel, even if the level is still not where you want it, you'll begin to feel more in control. Sure a "10" would be ideal in all areas, but don't aim for perfection, but improvement.
 

Well, now that you're on your way to balancing your life, take some time and consider what's really important to you. Consider what your values are,your beliefs and what truly guides you in life.  Then, place those as your core values, at the center of your life.  By doing this, every area of your life will be directed by what you believe is the most important for you.  And even when things seem a bit hectic at times, knowing your core values makes it easy to say "no" to what doesn't fit and "yes" to what does. Now go and get your life back in balance and enjoy life.  Good luck and I wish you well.