To grow spiritually is to develop your potential.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual.

Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being.

In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual.

When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end in itself.

Whatever your view it is important to realise the benefits of developing your potential in life in order for you to achieve all that you possibly can.

This is not an easy journey, but it has incredible rewards, it begins when you start to take a look at who you really are, what you believe in and why. Open yourself up to the truth behind your beliefs, are they truly what you believe or have they been beliefs passed on from others, and that includes family.

The hardest part of this journey is to identify your true beliefs. Once this is established you can begin to work towards your development from there.

Prosperity

I have been reading a lot recently about out general attitude to prosperity as you have probably noticed. Interestingly enough we are usually standing in our own way of abundance and prosperity. Our ingrained information from childhood defines much of how we think now. If you have constantly heard such things as 'money doesn't grow on trees' or 'no we can't afford it' then you too have probably built up a belief of not deserving, unobtainable and many more such phrases.

As someone who, as a child, believed that God was a part of us and lived within us, but was discouraged by all for thinking this way, I must say I have drifted far away from the church, any church and their teachings. To this day I have kept my belief that God is within each and every one of us. I also believe that almost every church, religion, sect or even coven on this planet, and please forgive me if you think otherwise, is more about control than about God.

My vision of God is of a loving Father who wishes each and every one of us health, wealth and happiness. I have always worked alone as a healer, I have always felt an incredible connection to God and those in my soul group who are there to help me, but I have found it very difficult to see the truth in the preachings of those I have come across professing to be religious. I am calling them preachings as it seems to me that they always want to 'get you on their side' or 'teach you the right way to think'. I am not condemning anyone for the way they think and their beliefs I just think that things need to be looked at on a far grander scale than most religions do.

Ok I have drifted off a bit as to what I began to say. The reason I mention God is because the books I am reading on prosperity have very much to do with God and our connection, expectations etc. of God. The way we look at our lives and our beliefs in regard to God has much to do with how our lives are. We need to change the way we look at our Universe, our connection to God and the abundance that is offered to us if only we would take it. I must admit as I started to read I was a little taken aback at the constant references to God and initially thought oh no not another preacher. Having said that, you are not committed to doing anything other than reading the book and taking what you need from it. That for me is the most important thing - I am a free spirit and do not wish to 'belong' to a body of people who think in a certain way and have no time for other thoughts. I am at one with, my own connection to God, my spirituality, my life, and live with good intent. My beliefs are my own which I do not impose on anyone.

Anyway to get back on track, help is at hand, and we can change our way of thinking and believing. Taking certain phrases, that will help us towards prosperity and abundance, and saying them consistently over time, even if at first we do not quite believe it, will work on your subconscious beliefs and make changes in your life. Some things will change immediately, some things will take longer but we can use our own innate wisdom and understanding to change our life.

So if you are interested in turning your life around have a look at the book on Prosperity on the front page of my website www.soulenergyrising.com and begin!!