“The reason people awaken is because they have finally stopped agreeing
to things that insult their soul.” Anonymous
I was recently teaching a young woman how to meditate. When asked why she wanted to learn, she shared that she had been experiencing mild anxiety and depression for some time. She wanted to feel more peaceful inside and her counsellor recommended she give meditation a try.
What we uncovered as the session progressed, surprised both of us.
This young woman was experiencing the inner conflict and turmoil that often accompanies the process of awakening.
As her story unfolded, she told me that she had no idea who she was. The majority of her life decisions were based on what she felt she should do and not what she felt she wanted to do. She explained that she didn’t seem to fit in with many of her friends and family who were urging her to get a certain type of job in order to make a good living.
She was feeling torn between the messages that she had received about what she needed to do to be successful and what fed her deeper interests and passions.
What has this scenario got to do with awakening?
My client was beginning to feel the pull of her soul and the deeper truths about who she was at her core.
She was feeling confused about the origin of her inner turmoil. She had yet to become aware of the difference between her conditioned, habitual thinking and the yearnings of her soul. These yearnings represented a blueprint for who she was meant to become.
She did not understand that there was a life force greater than her at work behind the scenes, creating conditions inviting her to awaken. And that entering into the process is voluntary with consequences if/when we don’t respond.
Are You Listening?
The sad truth, however, is that the majority of people who receive this invitation have no idea that it’s an invitation.
When we ignore, deny or turn our back on the invitation because we don’t see it for what it is, we often experience symptoms such as emotional issues, physical health problems, relationship challenges and jobs that don’t feel aligned.
More and more people are being called to make this shift.
It is a normal part of the evolution of our consciousness. Unfortunately, most do not understand what is happening. This awakening process is misunderstood. People experiencing awakening react as if there’s something wrong when in fact it’s a natural and beautiful, albeit often difficult, process of growth and change.
As we continued to explore what this awakening felt like for her, this young woman experienced a sense of relief.
She was curious about spirituality and was feeling drawn to learn more about a creative life force that she intuitively knew played a significant role in her life. She went on to explain that she found herself asking the big questions in life: What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here? Why have I suffered in my life when most of my peers seem to be happy?
All of these signs pointed to the realization that this woman was being invited to awaken.
This awakening involves a process whereby we shift our worldviews and begin to see things differently and more clearly.
What is Awakening?
Awakening reveals that which had previously been hidden from our view. It’s about awareness. When we become aware, we wake up from the over-identification with our minds and our perpetual thoughts. We then realize that we are the awareness of our thoughts and not the thoughts themselves.
Our awakening calls us to shed the beliefs and habits that no longer serve us in order to step fully into who we’re meant to become.
In my practice as a life coach for the spiritually minded, I’m seeing an emerging pattern. More and more people are feeling this inner urge to awaken. Unfortunately many are not aware of what this inner pull and restlessness are all about. And even if they are aware, most are lacking the tools to support them on this inner journey of exploration, discovery, healing, and growth.
Meditation and mindfulness are necessary tools for the awakening journey. They teach us how to look inside ourselves and find the answers in order to live in alignment with our souls.
Our community would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below if you feel you have or are in the process of awakening. What does it feel like? Do you have the tools that you need to aid you in the process?
is it possible that someone on similar spiritual path is getting negative comments, reactions from people?
i have noticed that i am being calm, meditative and fine.. but poeple pass comments on me and call me depressed…
they feel someting is wrong wth me.. merely in my presence… i am simply there sitting.. and still i attract negative ppl and reactions…. today only this happened again.. i was simply there on dentist’s chair.. i didnt utter a word.. and that dentist second time called me depressed and judged me…. although i was simply calm and meditative … in my own trance.. .i felt betrayed deep inside.. bcoz positivoty also attracting negativity..? i want to know.. what would u say about it…? any idea why i always and usually attract negative comments.. even when i am not doing anything to call for it?
Thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience. The negative comments and reactions from other people are more a reflection of where they are at and not your state of consciousness. The learning for you is in becoming aware of your reaction to their feedback. Does it trigger something in you? Notice how that feels in your body? What thoughts go along with this? Get curious…
Hi Bev , I really liked reading your posts, thank you for your clear insights, I have been on a journey to find out who am I for the last two years and have learnt , grown and been more centered than before , many challenges came up which I understand was a call to shed limiting beliefs, all in all it has been a rollercoaster ride so far. Intellectually I totally understand that I am not my mind or body but I am a soul having a mind/body experience, what I dont understand is even though my brain seems to have this knowledge I still dont seem to be able to live it fully, i cannot understand what is the way I can fully let go , what does that really mean , if I am not the doer and just the instrument then am I responsible for any actions ? Does fully let go involve not having any desires but just going along with whatever is happening, craving something is wrong, but if I dont have desires what’s the point of being here in this world, if i choose not to have free will isnt that choosing an act of free will too ?
Hi Sam, Thanks so much for your insightful and thought-provoking comments and questions. I want to say that I was inspired by your journey and the work that you have been doing for the past couple of years to learn, grow and shed some limiting beliefs. That takes a lot of courage!
I and others I’m sure can relate to the “rollercoaster” ride that it feels like. You are definitely not alone with that feeling.
In terms of your questions- thank you for posting them! You make some really valuable observations.
In terms of knowing something intellectually and actually doing something different in order to fully live into a new way of being requires more than awareness alone. It’s why change is difficult even when we know we want to change.
When I’m coaching a client who wants to not only think differently but be different, we co-create a new vision which includes new beliefs, ways of doing things and ways of checking back in to see through new eyes. We then also need to build new “muscles” which are small practices that help us shift into this new way of being. In this way we take what worked for us in the past, let go of what is holding us back and evolve into a new way of being. Make sense?
In terms of your questions… Fully letting go isn’t about not having desires. Deep desires often arise from our souls and we are meant to bring those things to life. Our challenge is to determine whether these desires are arising from our ego which leads to striving, never being good enough, immediate gratification OR whether it is a desire that is arising from an intelligent Universe that wants expression through us. We become the “channel.”
Discerning which desires require action and which require observation becomes part of our spiritual practice.
I hope that helps! Please do reach out if you’d like to explore whether I can support you in building these new muscles and stepping more fully into who you’re longing to become. Thank you again!! Bev