Down and Dirty Spiritualist: I Paved the Road To Hell

Carol Warady
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

I made a classic mistake. And I didn’t do it at the beginning of my spiritual journey when I could claim that I didn’t know any better. I know better.

This was a time where my ego bested my spiritual self. The particulars aren’t important. I saw before me someone going through some rough times and they were in pain. I don’t know why at that moment I let my ego take the wheel, but it did. I gave advice on how they should look at the situation and how they should act according to my spiritual perspective. And then, BOOM! There I was, looking like Wile E Coyote with explosive residue all over my face!

The person didn’t ask for my advice. Odds are that what they needed was for me to listen. I missed an opportunity to really do the spiritual thing. The spiritual thing is to listen.

Spreading spirituality that way isn’t my job. It isn’t anyone’s job. Yes there are spiritual teachers but their students come to them. And yes these teachers go out on speaking engagements and they sell books. The difference is that when I go to see someone or buy their book, it’s a decision I make. It isn’t forced on me. People will find their way to it or they won’t. My job isn’t to adjust their path. To do so is pretty much pure ego. Case in point, what I did with my friend. I missionized and I preached. Even worse, I expected a pat on my back!

This doesn’t mean I should hide my spirituality. I should live my spirituality through actions. And I can share my actions here. Then when someone sees my light, they might say “ I want what she’s having!” The great thing about spirituality for me is that I am supposed to learn from everything that happens in my life. So, while I didn’t get the pat on my back that I thought I would, I got exactly what I needed.

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Carol Warady

Mashup of writer in progress, political junkie,TV lover,animal lover,Charley lover, and the right amount of goofy.Best served w/coffee

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