"Do you hold your beliefs lightly or tightly? When I hold them tightly, I arrogantly believe everyone should believe as I do. When I hold them lightly, I appreciate others' perspectives/points-of-view, even if they may not be mine. The spiritual path is not about trying to get rid of or not have beliefs. It is about holding them lightly because you know that they are simply one perspective among billions. When we cling to a belief, we are stuck. When we hold it lightly we are not stuck... we are free." Michael Jeffreys
This quote resonates with my Being.
I have a sense we, at times, cling to our beliefs so tightly that it prevents our Spiritual growth. I was raised Catholic and found many of the Catholic doctrines too restrictive. I was certainly not a favorite of the Nuns who taught Church School and the Priests who presided over Mass. I'm sure many of them breathed a sigh of relief when I stopped going to Church. I found it difficult to listen to some individuals preach about Love and Forgiveness while I witnessed how they were dealing with the children in their care. My honest questions were seen as a challenge to their authority.
I am not a religious person. I am, however, deeply Spiritual. My belief system has, over the years, grown to embrace the core teachings of many practices. I used to think that I was wishy-washy for picking and choosing from different religions and belief systems. I now realize that I was simply resonating with the similarities of each. I am not threatened by anothers' belief system. No one has to believe as I do. Everyone's Spirituality is their own.
Any belief that allows us to become the best that we can be and opens the door to treating others as we would like to be treated has my respect.
We all have our own paths to walk and unique ways of reaching our destinations. It's less important how we reach our destination than it is that we simply reach it.
So, throughout my journey, I will be holding my beliefs lightly.
This quote resonates with my Being.
I have a sense we, at times, cling to our beliefs so tightly that it prevents our Spiritual growth. I was raised Catholic and found many of the Catholic doctrines too restrictive. I was certainly not a favorite of the Nuns who taught Church School and the Priests who presided over Mass. I'm sure many of them breathed a sigh of relief when I stopped going to Church. I found it difficult to listen to some individuals preach about Love and Forgiveness while I witnessed how they were dealing with the children in their care. My honest questions were seen as a challenge to their authority.
I am not a religious person. I am, however, deeply Spiritual. My belief system has, over the years, grown to embrace the core teachings of many practices. I used to think that I was wishy-washy for picking and choosing from different religions and belief systems. I now realize that I was simply resonating with the similarities of each. I am not threatened by anothers' belief system. No one has to believe as I do. Everyone's Spirituality is their own.
Any belief that allows us to become the best that we can be and opens the door to treating others as we would like to be treated has my respect.
We all have our own paths to walk and unique ways of reaching our destinations. It's less important how we reach our destination than it is that we simply reach it.
So, throughout my journey, I will be holding my beliefs lightly.
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