Home
>
Spirituality
>
Using Your Spiritual Path Against Yourself

Using Your Spiritual Path Against Yourself

In looking back at my process over the years I have noticed an interesting phenomenon that I refer to as "using my path to go against myself." This behavior may be a surprise to many of you?.but as programmed ego minds we have been trained to use our life situations to go against ourselves since we were small. We have learned from those around us to use other people to raise our blood pressure, prove that we are not good enough, affirm that we will never be loved or that life is unfair. Unfortunately, the list of way we use others to hurt ourselves is endless.

I often see how many times people get fanatical about changing their lives at the beginning of their spiritual path. They see some positive change in their lives and want the process to be finished right now - as if instant awareness is an available commodity. They spend all their free time journaling, writing, recapitulating, going to workshops, and traveling on spiritual journeys, but they have no balance in their lives and are not having much fun. It is important to create enjoyment in life, because we don't know if we'll be around tomorrow.

We have a workaholic society due to our puritanical beliefs about work - for example: "Idol hands are the devils playground." It behooves us to look carefully at how we are creating the dream of our lives right now. Is there balance in our lives? Are we really happy? Has our path become a burden or dreadful? Or even worse?has our spiritual path started to look like a full time job?

I am not saying that parts of your path will not be painful or challenging to look at. Challenge and pain are natural in the course of any quest to transform. But, at the same time, if we engage in self-judgment or create rigid schedules for our journaling, our path will become a continuation of our "doings." Doings are activities we engage in that are programmed behaviors that we perform without awareness. We normally "do" things to abuse ourselves without consciousness, and we don't want our path to be an opportunity to perpetuate that abuse.

For example, we want to be the best student, to look good in our teacher's eyes so we can have approval and love. I remember having this exact experience, wanting my teacher's approval for what I was doing. Of course, the beauty of it all was that he couldn't care less. All my teacher wanted was for me to be happy, and to get over my need to link my self-worth to him or anyone else! Freedom is never having to impress anyone ever again because you are completely content and in love with yourself.

Your programmed mind will always make at least two proposals for any situation you are presented with. There will always be at least one proposal that appears seemingly logical but will actually be harmful to you. Carefully observe the logic your mind uses to justify everything you choose to do. It may tell you that if you do a long list of things you will heal yourself and be a good student. Another part of your mind will tell you, "I am tired, I can do this tomorrow." So which proposal do you listen to when both are in opposition to one another, and both are the result of programmed internal dialogue? Well, this is a most challenging question! The best advice is not to listen to either proposal because you cannot trust your mind. You may think one of those statements is the real you speaking but the real you cannot speak with words.

Listen to your heart. If you are simply exhausted then rest. If you are exhausted everyday, then there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed first. I would ask, "Why are you tired all the time?" or "Are you creating stress in your life?" If the answer to these questions is "yes," change that first so you can have the time for your spiritual activities. Then your body will be happy and you will feel balanced. You will be able to focus on your process with more clarity if your body is rested and well cared for.

Watch the "logic" that your mind proposes to get you to go against yourself. Consider the justifications your mind is using to hold the status quo, sabotage you, and keep you from happiness. Be wary, be watchful and do not believe yourself under any circumstances! And above all do not empower your feisty program with the ability to use your path to go against yourself!

Sheri Rosenthal DPM is a master Toltec teacher and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom. Having trained with don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, she currently takes students on spiritual journeys, works with personal apprentices and enjoys being extremely happy. You can reach her at info@sherirosenthal.com or info@sherirosenthal.com

Lincolnshire shuttle from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Most cameras allow you to instantly transfer images from a camera to a smartphone via Bluetooth, and you can print photos directly from your phone.

Security researchers have found a fake app pretending to be a version of the messaging app Telegram, and hackers are using the app to spread malware.

Meta recently announced it will cease working with third-party fact-checking organizations to flag misleading posts on Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

Scientists have developed a floating solar still device that is capable of harnessing the sun's energy to purify seawater and withstanding harsh maritime conditions.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says business email compromise scams are a serious threat, as shown by Teresa W.'s near loss of thousands of dollars.

Big tech coming in 2025 includes solar umbrellas, AI TVs, smart earbuds and crazy robots. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his take on the wonders revealed at CES 2025.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides two methods to restore your contacts for iPhone and Android devices.

FBI warns that criminals are using generative AI to exploit individuals with deceptive tactics. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains their tactics and how to protect yourself from them.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says hackers are embedding dangerous code in Chrome extensions to steal your data.

Google Maps Location Sharing is now built into Android settings; no need for Maps settings. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses the welcome improvement for Android users.

Not all apps out there offer legit virtual private networks, according to Kurt the CyberGuy. He explains how to keep your information safe.

Apple's Image Playground transforms text prompts into images or animations in seconds, brining a world of creativity to the palm of your hand.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter, which flew on Mars in April 2021, became the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on a planet other than Earth.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Thieves who have iPhones can usually detect a hidden AirTag in vehicles they are attempting to steal, and an RFID wallet may not help you.

Genmoji, the latest addition to Apple's Apple Intelligence suite, uses artificial intelligence to generate customized emoji based on text descriptions.

It's easy to find yourself swamped in unread emails. Here are a few simple steps to archiving them and clearing out some of your digital clutter.

Keep your retirement plan safe from data brokers selling your personal information. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to protect yourself and your retirement.

Turo faces scrutiny after tragic incidents involving rented vehicles, raising questions about security measures and regulatory frameworks.

A Chinese company has developed a spherical, 276-pound law enforcement robot that has been chasing down criminals at impressive speeds.

Here are some powerful online sleuthing tricks you can use to check the credibility of a website, see old pictures of places you've lived and even learn more about your neighbors.

Beware scam calls: Avoid unknown numbers and protect your personal information. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about the increasingly common scam.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you crush your New Year's goals with these 12 apps to help you stay on track and succeed.

There are many untapped safeguards and tips you can learn to take your Wi-Fi knowledge to the next level, technology expert Kim Komando shares her tricks.

Using Your Spiritual Path Against Yourself

Spirituality