Embracing Spirituality: My Journey to Authentic Self

Spirituality and Life Coaching: How Do They Work Together?

I’m just as guilty as a lot of other people who get caught up in the idea of a namesake for religion. Does it matter? In short, no. It doesn’t matter who or what you believe in as a higher source. Hell, you don’t even have to believe in anything if you’re unsure or can’t buy into organized religion. Let’s be honest, though; we all talk to something we can’t see, whether it’s in desperation, frustration, or absolute gratification and happiness. You know that moment when you think, “Thank God I passed that test!” Yeah, that’s what I mean.

For me, the higher source I refer to is the “Universe.” There are times when I use 'God' or 'Source' as well. And just for fun… when I want to cover all my bases, I use “GUS.” God, Universe, and Source all combined. It doesn’t have to come from an ancient text or bar stool confessional. What you believe in is sacred to you. Call it what you want, but at the end of the day, be a good person who is kind to others. That is the most genuine essence of faith.

The Intersection of Spirituality and Personal Growth

I’d like to believe that there’s always a higher purpose to our successes and failures. No matter where you are, you are meant to grow and feel through it. In my opinion, we are all here to learn, grow, and help others through our journeys. Maybe that’s too “woo-woo” for you, or perhaps this is right up your alley. Either way, perception matters. It has a way of giving purpose to even the most devastating or fantastic events that affect our lives.

A Personal Anecdote: The Catalyst for Change

When I was 17, my brother was shot by the police due to his actions. It was unfathomable. The cracks in the foundation of my tiny existence turned into canyons full of jagged boulders and turbulent rushing waters. I was told time and time again, “At least it can’t get any worse.” And then it would.

Without going into too much detail, this event sparked my interest in psychology and law enforcement. How do our thoughts and behaviors affect others and ourselves? What makes one person follow one path over the other? Unfortunately, there isn’t a canned response like 1 + 1 = 2. We could delve into personality theories, nature versus nurture, mental disorders, and everything else that psychology teaches us. Or we could explore a little bit of all of it, including perception, life experiences, trauma, soul contracts, karmic pasts, and, of course, the psychological element of it all.

The Blend of Spirituality and Life Coaching

This is where spirituality and life coaching blend, and life’s colors mix. We can shape our perception to see a bigger picture that GUS (God, Universe, or Source, etc.) has planned for us. It’s about the intertwining actions of free will, our psychological makeup, and the influences of events and people around us. All of this can help us make sense of things.

By no means is this an easy answer or even a suggestion to dress a hypothetical pile of dog poop in a pretty dress. At the end of the day, it’s still dog poop, and it sucks to step in. All I’m saying is there may be a way to reframe it all. We can learn to step around the poop, use it as fertilizer in our garden, or even say, “That poor dog must have been backed up for months! Glad he finally got it out!”

The Journey of Self-Discovery

As I gain traction with this life coaching journey, I hope you’ll take a look at my other blog posts. In the worst-case scenario, I may make you smile with a silly analogy, and that, to me, is a win!

So, what’s your story? Have you had moments that changed your perspective? I’d love to hear about them. Remember, we’re all on this journey together, learning and growing as we go. Let’s embrace our unique paths and support one another in our quests for authenticity.

My chocolate lab Maya. Turns out, she has been the best four legged companion in my life.