Spirituality, NOT to be Confused with Religiosity

You know that your spiritual IQ is climbing when you:

• Notice that you are less bothered by the ups and downs of your life. This is a good one. Trying.
• Remember to ask for grace and guidance from the higher powers at the heart of the universe, and to be open to receive it through surprising channels. Guidance from higher powers? What higher powers?
• Realize that you're happier and more peaceful when you stop trying to control every situation. Totally true. It reminds me of a Looney Tunes episode I watched as a kid when Porky Pig was upset that Bugs Bunny kept trying to straighten his tail. There are just some things you can't force. Goooo with the flowwwwww.
• Stop worrying about always having everyone's approval. This one is good too. It's especially hard for those who naturally try to be people-pleasers.
• Find it easier to forgive your parents, your ex-spouse, the coach who bullied you in high school, and yourself. Is it just me, or is it easier to forgive other people than it is to forgive yourself? Why are we so harsh on ourselves?
• Wake up some mornings feeling grateful for no good reason. I love it when this happens. It keeps me on a natural high for the entire day (plus a little caffeine).
• Treat your feelings of anger, jealousy, and blame as opportunities to work with your own mind. I don't think I'm good at this yet.
• Develop inner practices like meditation, prayer, mindful awareness, self-inquiry, and silent contemplation. Happens during yoga. And when I take walks under the stars listening to Mr Johannes. And sometimes while driving.
• Feel less fearful of situations and outcomes that used to scare you. See point 3.
• Experience feelings of equality, kinship, and concern for other people, animals, and the earth. Wow. This one's hard. People are naturally selfish. I don't mean selfish in the negative sense. I mean we think of the world and our situation with ourselves in the center. To have true empathy for others requires a radical shift in your thinking. Default mode is me me me. If you can develop a way of thinking that is more inclusive, I think you've achieved what David Foster Wallace considers freedom. This also totally reminds me of what my friend said when he talked about why he's an animal person. We all share this earth. People can band together and demand their rights and entitlements when they feel wronged, but animals can't. But animals are living beings too. The worth of their life has been severely diminished because humans are the ones who make all the rules. How do you blame a bear for attacking a human when it was the human who trespassed onto the bear's domain in the first place? We don't shoot other humans for stepping on our lawns (well, most of us don't).
• Are less afraid to speak the truth, and know how to do it gently. Not my strong suit.
  
• Finally, and above all, feel a growing connection to your own unshakable Essence, your inner Self or Buddha nature. Buddha nature? I'm all for spirituality, but that sounds a little whacky. Maybe I'll just stick to finding my true inner self for now.

Seeking consistent and unwavering internal peace is definitely a work in progress, but that's the beauty of the activity. The wheels are always in motion. Inspiration can also come from places you expect it least.