There is a school of thought in the self-growth field that suggests the universe and everything in it is a projection of the mind, and beliefs about the self dictate what perception reveals about it. If true, then we not only create our lives, but also everything and everyone in it we perceive with the body’s senses. In fact, if physical reality is a mirror of our conscious and unconscious beliefs (especially the latter), then it’s only an illusion, and has no basis in reality at all.
This isn’t just a fancy New Age theology. It’s been a running theme throughout some of the recorded history of faith and philosophy at least as far back as Plato, and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, among many others. Modern science - specifically the fields of quantum physics and human biology - continues to find evidence supporting the concept that we are what we believe. Therefore, it can be deduced that if we identify the self with the body, our beliefs affect us on the level of form; whereas if we identify with a spiritual self, our beliefs alter to reflect a different reality than what the body alone perceives.
Any seeker of the spirit self knows it’s not easy to dissociate from the idea that one is not a body, because we spend the bulk of our lives believing it. We’re taught from a young age to accept that ‘seeing is believing’, when we should be taught that ‘believing is seeing’. This state of confusion could be one of the reasons people struggle to maintain their sanity in a world that they themselves have made insane. Of course, it depends on whether or not you ascribe to this particular school of thought in the first place.
If you do, there are many ways available to help discover the depths of your spirituality. Some practices, like meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, and others, have been around for centuries. There’s also a diverse array of conceptual texts on deepening one’s spiritual awareness that offer guided instruction on how to go about it. Deciding which one may work requires some trial and error, but generally whichever is needed at a given point in time will show up in a person’s life when they’re ready for it.
Personally, the teachings of A Course in Miracles rings true for me, being filled with concepts that suggest a spiritual wisdom has laid them out. It may not have the same appeal for everyone, but its logic seems remarkably thorough and it’s approach consistent. I’ve read some criticism of the Course, and have actually chuckled at the attempts of some writers to offer any that are more believable than the Course material itself. It’s a work that’s difficult to refute.
Regardless, the point is that there are numerous, effective methods to help increase one’s self-awareness. I think examining beliefs about the self, and altering them if necessary, can help change the illusion of a chaotic world to one more closely resembling what we all want from it.
I also think it’s safe to presume that everyone is already on their own path to spiritual awakening, whether they’re cognizant of the fact or not, but as more people make a purposeful effort to find greater spiritual awareness, a domino effect of learning will take place. Understanding will grow that the world we see is not one we need feel forced to live in, and greater peace and harmony are possible. If you’re ready to take another step in that direction, the very short reading list compiled below may help get you started.
A Course in Miracles, published by the Foundation for Inner Peace
A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson
Loving What Is, Byron Katie
Living the Wisdom of the Tao, Wayne Dyer
Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul, Deepak Chopra
The Disappearance of the Universe, Gary Renaud
The Biology of Belief, Bruce Lipton
The Gratitude Effect, John Demartini
Steering by Starlight, Martha Beck
The Places that Scare You, Pema Chodron
What the Bleep Do We Know?, various authors
