You’ve been on your spiritual path for a while now. You’ve been meditating, praying, trying to do good – but instead of feeling at peace, you feel like you’ve been suffering more than ever. And I’m sure it’s frustrating – you’re putting in all this spiritual work and yet still facing challenges, right?
Suffering doesn’t automatically mean you’re screwing something up. In fact, it’s very normal and expected for people on a spiritual journey to go through suffering. Spiritual growth and change often isn’t a comfortable process. But there are good reasons why spiritual people deal with suffering too. It comes with the territory.
Spiritual People Face Challenges, Too
Even the most enlightened souls face difficulties in life. Spiritual people often struggle because they feel out of place in such a materialistic world. It can be hard to find like-minded people to share your journey with. Many feel alone in their quest for meaning and purpose.
Some may even face criticism and judgment from those who do not understand their path. Concepts like meditation, energy healing, and astrology are foreign or strange to some. The spiritual path has its challenges, but the rewards of living a purposeful, compassionate life make any difficulties worthwhile. Growth is a long journey, not a final destination.
Ego Dissolution
“Love and ego can never exist together, just as the Sun and shadow cannot.” – Banani Ray
Spiritual awakening is all about confronting that ego, that little voice in your head that’s always saying “me, me, me”. As you start waking up, you realize how much that ego drives your thoughts and actions. And that can be tough to see at first.
Some days, it might feel like you don’t know who you are anymore or what you’re doing here as the ego loses its grip. But that’s a good sign – it means you’re on the right track. The real you is starting to emerge from behind that ego facade.
This whole ego-dissolving process teaches you not to cling so tightly to your beliefs and desires. You learn to stop judging yourself and comparing yourself to others so much. Slowly but surely, you develop a calmness and contentment that can roll with life’s ups and downs.
Even though this “ego death,” as I call it, sounds scary, it actually leads to an amazing gift – reconnecting with who you truly are deep down. When the ego fades away, you see the natural beauty, wholeness, and perfection that’s been inside you the whole time.
Their Eyes Are Open
“Light only benefits one whose eyes are open.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
For spiritual people, their eyes have been opened up to life’s deeper truths and bigger picture stuff. Instead of getting distracted by surface level things, spiritual folks focus on what really matters – love, compassion, and purpose.
When you take off those rose-colored glasses, you notice there’s more to life than just status, money and material things. For you, life has meaning below the surface. But that can be tough sometimes, too, because as you discover people’s true selves, you may even lose friends along the way.
You might realize that friend you used to party with every weekend isn’t good for your growth. Or that other friend who’s always complaining was bringing your vibe down. As you grow spiritually, people fall away. And that’s really just a sign that you and them aren’t on the same page anymore. They don’t fit in your journey like they used to.
Empathy On A Deeper Level
“To perceive is to suffer.” – Aristotle
Being so in tune with your feelings means you connect with people on a whole other level. Your empathy and sensitivity is what lets you be there for others in the realest way. But it also means you take things hard. Other people’s problems really weigh on you, sometimes it’s like their suffering becomes your own too.
Having that kind of awareness is both a gift and a challenge. It allows you to be there for people in a big way when they need you. But you have to watch out for yourself, too. It’s easy to lose sight of your own needs when you’re focused on helping others.
My advice would be to set aside solo time for yourself, whether you’re out in nature or meditating. Doing something just for you can help lift your energy back up and release any hurt that’s built up inside from taking on too much of other people’s pain.
Social Isolation
“We don’t heal in insolation, but in community.” – S. Kelley Harrell
As a spiritual person, it can be tough when your interests are different from the people around you. Family and friends may not get why spirituality is important to you, and that can hurt. You start to feel like no one understands you and your path.
It’s easy to want to pull away when you feel so misunderstood. But isolation isn’t the answer and will probably make you feel worse. Instead of shutting yourself off from others, I’d recommend trying to connect with people who get where you’re coming from. See if there are any meetups, groups or communities near you for spiritual folks. Even online support can help you feel less alone.
We all need connection, so don’t lose hope. Be true to yourself and your journey, while also keeping your heart open to forming new bonds with people who support you for you. Spiritual or not, you can find your tribe.
Moral Struggles
“Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.” – Madeleine L’Engle
You may find yourself between a rock and a hard place, wondering what the right call is. Your heart’s telling you one thing but your head’s saying another. It’s never easy when it comes to people you love – you want to do right by everyone but that’s not always possible.
A lot of times, these inner battles happen because you genuinely care about people and don’t want to hurt anyone. You feel torn between taking care of yourself and taking care of others. Or staying loyal to those close to you and speaking your truth. Maybe it’s balancing daily responsibilities with nurturing your soul. Life is messy like that. Just do your best to consider all sides and make a choice you can live with.
“No Pain, No Gain”
When going through a rough patch, don’t ask “why me.” You’re in the middle of growing and becoming your best self. There’s a lot of hurt involved with changing but just remember that struggles are what make us stronger. It may not feel great in the moment but it’s all making you wiser and more compassionate.
