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The Spiritual You

To recap, the previous posts were talking about the "physical you", which comprises of activities related to diet, sleep and exercise. Then I switched to the "mental you" where I wrote about curbing the bad stuff (stress) and focussing on the positives, and to seek professional help (if required). The 3rd element of the "total you" is none other than the "spiritual you". 

There is a quote by Blaise Pascal (17th century Frenchman famed for his contribution to mathematics, physics and philosophy) that "there exists a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God".  I like how this was expanded by Pastor Philip Olubakin in his Facebook post that we may try to stuff the hole with relationships, church activities, tattoos, more degrees, travelling, food, clothes, money...but only God can fill this.




I am no expert in other religions so what I will be writing is on Christianity. The only other relation that I have with other religion is that I was "adopted" by the Godden Kuan Yin (also known as Kannon) when I was a baby. Reason was that I was sickly and my parents thought that I looked "dumb" and the adoption will help me to grow up strong, healthy and upright. I am a Christian now by choice, as with both my parents. 

So what does it mean to be spiritual? And how do we add this to be the 3rd element (after the physical and mental) for a complete life? 


Christianity, and the reason why I chose it, is not a religion but more a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. It is not about appearing religious or pious, but about knowing God personally and to allow the relationship to shape our lives. This is in the way we talk, hwo we act at work and at home and virtually all aspects in our life. It means beign attentive to the Holy Spirit, which guides, comforts, helps and empowers us as believers to live our life to live according to God's will. 


Next question: what is God's will? The answer is from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians where he wrote to "Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances" for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Rather than being solemn, God's will is that we be joyful. and remain in delight that He is in control. It is pray and bring everything to God - whether it is to ask, to seek for things.  And then to give thanks, regardless of the good or bad. 

Ultimately, to be spiritual is to live a life based on a hope and a future. It is to live a life where we esteem others to be greater and thereby doing good to others, ahead of ourselves because we know that God will provide. While the road may not be easy, it is the one that leads to true life. 

One thing to note:

There has been a great many people who have achieved great wealth, status and success in life that probably (judging by the way they live their lives) does not have God or any spiritual element in their lives. And yet, they are doing very well in a life filled with great wealth, and some with good health (we think) but zero religion. 

But enough on other people, the most IMPORTANT is not other people but YOU. 

Each of us have to make the decision of how we want to live our lives, and to bear the consequences (good or bad) of the decsion. 


I recall an answer on Quora by a very experienced life-coach who was asked what it takes to succeed and his answer is pretty simple, "to succeed, you need to spend time doing it and be consumed by it". He went on saying that success can be achieved in whatever vocation you choose. 

Take for example a salesperson. If the salesperson goes to dinner, he talks about sales. If he runs for a workout, he will think about sales. Before he sleeps, he will read about sales. If he goes to a concert, he will think about sales, if he goes travelling, he will look at the sights but again, be thinking about (future) sales. There is no doubt he will suceed. As for the other stuff...well, there is no other stuff. This can be applied to all - the health nut, the parent, the athlete, the doctor treating the patient, the drug trafficker/addict, the executive climbing the corporate ladder, the church pastor, etc. 

Consider this reflection from Steve Jobs, Apple founder and CEO. 

He has this to say in his final days before succumbing to cancer,  "I have reached the pinnacles of success in business...However, apart from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed. At this moment, lying in my sickbed and looking back at my entire life, I realized all the praises and riches I was so proud of have vanished and become insignificant in the face of impending death". Without a doubt, Steve Job is a great man but at his final days, he seems to say that all these did not really result in significance. 



My take: the vacuum that is supposed to be occupied by God is now occupied by the item you have chosen. This is now your god - be it sales, health, sports success, wealth, etc. Will it work? Of course it will work because you will be consumed by it. The greater question that needs to be asked is how sustainable this is and how it affect the other parts of our lives. 

At the end of day, each will have give an account of their lives to God, whether we believe in Him or not. 



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