The Journey to Self Discovery

This topic of spiritual abuse has echoed in my heart and mind for years, and lately, I've seen a rise in conversations on it through emails and social media. So many people share stories that sound familiar to my own, and I felt it was time to address it openly once again. Spiritual abuse is real, and if you’ve experienced it, know that you’re not alone. I lived under the heavy weight of spiritual abuse for 26 years. It scarred me and left me skeptical of churches or ministries that use intimidation and manipulation as tools of control. In my experience, spiritual abuse can involve a variety of tactics meant to silence, control, or manipulate followers. Here are just a few examples that I’ve personally encountered: Pressure to Stay Despite Burnout : A minister once told me that even though I was physically and emotionally burned out, leaving the ministry would mean losing all of my God-given gifts. Exclusive Teachings : A church I was involved in claimed that it alone had the “true...

It’s always possible for a higher level of consciousness to infuse our experience in any moment. Say that you’re disappointed by something that someone says or does. You can stew in the story of what happened, or you can bring kindness to the pain you feel. Stewing in the story keeps you stuck and separate. And being kind to your emotions is more spacious and less stressful. You’re letting consciousness in by being aware of your in-the-moment experience—instead of being lost in the story. I’ve noticed a lot of people complaining recently, and it strikes me that they are totally caught in their stories. Someone was complaining about getting parking tickets, and I thought to myself, “This suffering is so unnecessary.” Read the signs and follow the rules, and like magic, you’ve freed yourself from getting tickets and the need to complain about them. And there’s no more room for enjoyment, presence, and peace. This is everyday awakening. In any moment, we can re...