Rediscovering Spirituality: A Journey Beyond Traditional Religion
Do you feel like you have to go through life's challenges alone? I often felt that way growing up and I want to tell you the story because I learned a lot from that perspective–and maybe you can too!
When things got tough for my family back in the day, we didn't turn to prayer or a higher power for guidance. Instead, we would just push through and work harder, hoping to make it to the other side in one piece. This approach was deeply rooted in our family history. My grandmother was a devout Catholic, but my father, who despised going to church as a child, vowed never to force his kids to attend. For him, church/religion was synonymous with spirituality. This belief, coupled with my mother’s lack of a faith-based upbringing, left us without a spiritual anchor during difficult times.
As I progressed in my healing journey over the years, I reconnected with my mind and body through mindset work, yoga, healthy eating, and exercise. Yet, something was still missing…
I realized it was the spiritual piece!
Initially, I thought this meant reading the Bible from cover to cover. I felt like a fish out of water, struggling to navigate the super-dense text. I even got a Children's Bible to help me understand it better–can you believe it???
Obviously, despite my efforts, I often found myself lost and questioning what I had just read. And still not any closer to having a relationship with a higher power that would help me in my times of need.
Around this time, I started listening to Joel Osteen. His messages resonated with me in a way that didn't feel preachy or condescending. I remember driving my young daughters to school, listening to Joel. One day they blurted out from the backseat in their little toddler voices, "Do we have to listen to God? Can we listen to something else?" Their question made me realize they were paying attention, and I didn’t want to force my journey on them. For me, Joel’s words were motivational, helping me realize I could pray to a higher power, even if it wasn’t God in the traditional sense.
This was the beginning of reconnecting with my spirituality. I started questioning what I believed in: Was it God, the universe, or some other higher power? I realized it didn’t have to fit into the structured beliefs of Catholicism, Protestanism, or Lutheranism. It could be something uniquely personal to me. I needed to put down the Bible and turn off Joel Osteen to dive deeper and discover what spirituality meant for me. This was a big deal because I was on a mission to find meaning and purpose after leaving my teaching career. I felt totally lost, struggling with my identity beyond just being a mom and a wife. My career, which had been such a huge part of me, vanished in an instant. It wasn’t true but, at the moment, I felt that I was left with nothing but insecurities and a huge load on my back.
I had to dig deep to reconnect with my spirituality and understand that I am a soul having a human experience and not a human trying to find a soul. This realization was important because it helped me come to terms with my life’s struggles. I questioned why my soul chose a life filled with childhood trauma, domestic violence, and generational struggles. I often felt like I was being punished and wondered, "Why me?" This feeling persisted since childhood, seeing other kids with what seemed like normal, happy lives.
I searched for connection and community by visiting a church with friends but I always felt out of place. I didn’t know the prayers, when to kneel or stand even though I had been baptized and confirmed. It felt like I was missing out on something significant, and this longing for connection and support from a higher power became even more apparent as I faced life’s challenges alone.
I realized I needed to define spirituality for myself, rather than feeling excluded or ignored by a higher power. I learned to ask the universe for guidance and support, and to hear its response in a language that resonated with me, which made me feel less alone. Expressing gratitude for simple things, like the sun shining or birds chirping, became my way of connecting with something greater.
Defining spirituality for yourself is incredibly powerful. I started exploring holistic practices like yoga, Reiki, meditation, chakra work, and energy healing. These modalities helped me foster a sense of spirituality that truly resonated with me – so much so that I became an energy healer and Reiki master myself, so I could help others find connection too. Here are my 4 tips or takeaways on finding your path to spiritual connection:
Personal Spirituality: Your spiritual journey is deeply personal–and it should be. It's about finding what resonates with you, whether that’s a traditional religious practice or a new-age modality. Don’t pressure yourself to define it and don’t expect all people to validate it or resonate with it. This is about you and your faith.
Seeking Connection: Many people experience a longing for connection and support from a higher power during challenging times. This connection doesn’t have to fit into traditional beliefs; it can be something uniquely personal. Try to hear beyond words, learn the language of the universe, or God, or the Deities, whatever you’re feeling but make it meaningful.
Holistic Practices: Exploring holistic practices like yoga, Reiki, meditation, and energy healing can help foster a strong sense of spirituality and connection. The best thing is that these can be practiced in groups or in solitude, you just have to be there consciously.
Self-Discovery: Defining spirituality for yourself is a powerful and impactful process. It involves a lot of self-discovery and understanding your own beliefs and values. If you find it hard to find a practice that you can rely on, maybe you can start by understanding and hearing yourself. Discover what you believe in, what you want, and what matters the most to you; there you’ll start finding your answers.
Life’s challenges can often make us feel isolated and disconnected. However, by exploring and defining your own spirituality, you can find a sense of connection, support, and inner peace that will stick with you during the toughest times of your future. Whether through traditional religious practices or holistic modalities, the journey to discovering what spirituality means to you is incredibly personal and powerful. Embrace the path that resonates with your soul and allows you to nurture your spirit!
If you’re feeling something is missing in your healing journey, give yourself permission to explore the path at your own pace. Remember, it’s about finding what speaks to your soul and helps YOU feel connected to something greater.
I’m Kim Keane, coach and energy healer, and I’d love to help you transform your life, your relationships and ultimately build a path toward a loving, peaceful life. DM me or email me at kim@kimkeane.com if you want to get personalized support, download my Free Everyday Spirituality Handbook or get my EFT Tapping Booster Session to continue making progress on your healing journey!