Rich Man’s Gym has always been about Strength and Conditioning for body, mind and spirit, but what exactly is spiritual strength and how do you cultivate it?
Simply put (thank you Google)…
Spiritual strength is a connection to the divine that gives people the power to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.”
That definition works for me. And allow me to cite a real example for you from my own life. Here’s the phrase, “I’ll push, you pull.” What does that mean? It meant that as I was trying to press a heavy kettlebell over head I would ask for a spot from the Lord above. “I’ll push, you pull.” We were in on it together and then I let that sentiment flow into the rest of my life.
And what I’ve come to realize over time is that anytime I’ve gotten myself into trouble it was a direct result of not maintaining the connection.
Key Components of Spiritual Strength
Spiritual strength is for anyone and everyone. It is not a religion, it is not dogma, it is simply you recognizing that there is a divine intelligence out there that you can connect with, commune with and have a relationship with. For many, that intelligence is named God and for others it’s Allah, Yahweh, Krishna… there’s a lot of choices out there but for many this implies religion and for many religion leads to corruption.
For others it’s a path. It’s a path to a relationship with the divine and a path to resilience in the face of life’s challenges, obstacles and opportunities with confidence knowing there is something greater, deeper and beyond our limited capacity for comprehension of this vast universe we occupy a tiny fraction of space in. The most important part here is recognizing that you’re not alone, never have been alone and when you have felt that way, it was a choice you were making.
Myths and Misconceptions
OK, let’s get a couple things straight, recognizing you’re an infinite being having a temporary human experience doesn’t make you religious. It makes you a spiritual person. Cultivating and growing your spirit doesn’t require you to become a zealot and you don’t need to get all into anything. One simple and easy way to start this journey is to simply return to the most important thing about living. The breath. You can silence your mind by focusing 100% of your attention on your breath and in the silence be open and aware of the universe around you.
LUKE
But how am I to know the good side from the bad?YODA
You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”
Be present with the energy around you. And since we’re on the subject, yes, The Force from Star Wars, especially how Yoda explains it in The Empire Strikes Back is a great analogy here
For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force flow around you. Here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, yes, even between the land and the ship.”
Why Spiritual Strength Matters
As I mentioned, you’re not alone. And moving forward, you don’t have to be and since we are moving forward, going it alone now would be a choice. Where do you get your strength? How do you stay grounded? How did Viktor Frankl survive the concentration camps?
Let me ask you, how would a deeper understanding of life’s meaning keep you motivated and working towards personal growth? The more purpose driven you are, the more positive you’ll be and that will lead to more happiness and satisfaction in life. And that comes from you and I fostering that strength, forging that strength through the body and the mind. Practice of the breath, being present, focused attention of compassion, empathy and patience. (All things I’m STILL working on). And as we grow, not only will our connection to the divine improve we will start being more able to recognize that divinity in others.
Cultivating Spiritual Strength
Step One: SHUT UP!
Be quiet. There is SO much noise in the world today. Create time each day to be quiet. Here’s part of my morning routine: 10 minutes of deep diaphragmatic breath work Mr Miyagi style. In through nose, out through mouth. I’ll do 30 of these and as I’ve learned from Wim Hof, on the 30th breath, I’ll hold it for as long as I can and during this retention stage I will very slowly in my mind recite The Lord’s Prayer while leaving large gaps between the words and it is in those gaps of pure silence, I open myself to receive.
Next Up: Gratitude
Another thing I like to do is journaling and focusing on gratitude. In the morning I wrote my goals and dreams down everyday and I write them all from a place of gratitude. I am grateful for my past, present and future and give those gratitudes daily attention by using my Gratitude 12 Journal. A perfect tool for reflection and giving thanks.
Then What? Study
I heard Wayne Dyer once talk, almost like a warning, about what you put in your brain right before you go to sleep is what your brain is going to work on all night, so I am now very conscious and aware of my final thoughts for the day. What information are you plugging into that noggin of yours right before drifting off to sleep? Send yourself off to dream land with personal development. Currently I’m reading The Gospel According To Matthew right before bed and prior to that I was reading The Greatest Salesman In The World by Og Mandino.
Step Four: Be In Nature
City slickers, it’s worth the drive. Go into the woods, mountains, beach and be present in nature. This will foster a sense of awe, connection and grounding. In fact, take your shoes off and go barefoot for a bit and connect to Mother Earth. One of my personal favorite places to be is at the beach.
After that: Serve
Who can you help? What can you give? Where can you volunteer or connect with like minded folks where acts of service will connect you to people and challenge you to find that divinity in others. Look for ways to leave people better than you find them. Look for ways to release yourself from the burden of judgement and instead take care of people.
Almost Lastly: Create!
What creative activities can you do that stimulate your creativity and lift your spirit. Paint, draw, write, craft, ect. These activities lighten the spirit and open the door to connecting with spirit. Me? I make custom fragrance. It’s like painting with scent. It’s a very spiritual activity for me and always leaves me feeling invigorated and inspired. What can you do?
And now lastly: LIFT!
Lifting weights especially Kettlebells for me turned out to be quite a gateway to connecting and reconnecting with spiritual strength. I found that pushing my body and mind physically naturally opened me up to spirit and allowed me to tap into that spirit and letting strength spill out all over. I know how valuable strength training was to me during my sobriety journey and know that if you or anyone you know is going through hard times, hit the iron.
Practical Tips and Techniques
Let’s look at how to dial this in to your regular…
Daily Routines
Make your spiritual strength practices part of your daily routine. Create a morning routine that incorporates some form of spiritual practice and make sure you clear your head before going to sleep. Allow me to stress the importance of consistency and long-term commitment as well. As I mentioned earlier, the times I get myself in trouble are the times I am disconnected from spirit and trying to go it alone.
Setting Intentions
Another benefit of the morning routine is setting your intentions for the day, getting connected to purpose and affirm who you are and why you’re here. Take time to write out your goals, targets, gratitudes and decide who you’re going to be today and how you want your day to end.
Digital Detox
Last on this one is look for times to unplug from the screen time and make sure you are using technology and not getting used by technology. Also, since you’re using technology, most of the apps on my phone are about productivity and being a better person and exercising my brain and creativity plus my tunes. Technology should make you better, not worse.
Measuring and Nurturing Ongoing Growth
How do you know you’re getting stronger? And are you ever really finished? You, like me are a work in progress. We are never done. We should be always working to improve and to get better. But again, how do you know? What can you track? When you’re working out you track sets, reps, weight, etc so it would make since to pay attention to your spiritual practices.
In the beginning, and even now for me, I have boxes I need to check. Did I get up before sunrise, did I do my breath work and meditation, did I write my goals down? These are habit and rituals I put in place to keep me on track.
Who do you look to? If you’re on a journey and you’re new to the path, would it be a bad idea to have a guide? Or maybe more than one? Some of mine are:
- My father
- Wayne Dyer
- Dan Millman
- Neal Donald Walsh
Find people you can connect with, relate to and benefit from their wisdom and to take it a step further, make sure you share that wisdom with other people because you’ll know you know it when you can teach it.
Common Roadblocks and How to Overcome Them
What gets in the way of spiritual strength? Well, simply put, YOU do. I do. We do. I get in my own way a lot, how about you? And what are the ways we do that? Fear has a large component. Not necessarily the terror kind of fear but that fear of loss, disappointment, wasting time, being wrong. That’s the ego at work there.
Leading to doubt and skepticism. It’s normal to want to protect yourself and the urge to be right or just not be wrong is a powerful drive. It can also close us off from experiencing our own divinity. One of the most powerful and important books you can read on this very subject (it’s been a life changer for me) is Wayne Dyer’s book The Power Of Intention. This book by far has been such a catalyst for me reconnecting to that universal force and energy.
Time for Spiritual Strenght
Another common roadblock to spiritual strength is really just an excuse. That’s time. We somehow believe that we don’t have time to cultivate a spiritual practice and so dismiss it and then trigger the old adage, out of sight, out of mind and there it goes. Time is created. When something becomes a priority, we create the time. Additionally, holding awareness for the world around you takes all of a spilt second. Breathing is something you’re already doing unconsciously, not do it consciously. We have all the time in the world.
What about Emotional Turmoil or Trauma?
Going there… meaning reconnecting to spirit may reopen old wounds OR might actually facilitate healing. However that comes with a price because the only way out is through. And at the same time you’re paying a price already. If you’re struggling with and carrying old trauma, why not set it down? Anger and resentment are heavy burdens to bear. There is a great Buddhist saying,
Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”
Carrying negative energy is harmful to you and disconnecting you from spirit. It can cause unnecessary and undue stress and it can also sour one’s outlook on the rest of life. It will take a toll on and damage relationships too.
Spiritual Strength Wrap Up
On the way out, remember, Spiritual strength means connecting with a divine intelligence for purpose, resilience, and belonging. You can build it first by returning to the breath, dialing in your morning routine, journaling, finding gratitude, spending time in nature, serving others, and expressing your creativity. Additionally, strengthening your body will further open channels for strengthening your mind AND spirit.
Stay consistent, set intentions, and measure growth as you would track workouts, employing mentors if needed. Remove common roadblocks like fear, skepticism, lack of time, or unhealed trauma by prioritizing your spiritual practices.
Lastly, it’s about realizing you’re never alone, forging a deeper understanding of life’s meaning and your personal growth.
So are you ready to get to work and strengthen your body, mind, and spirit? Start by committing to one small daily practice—like breath work, journaling, or a quick gratitude check—and notice how it transforms your day.
Share your experiences or questions in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe or follow for more insights and tips on building spiritual strength.
Let’s make “I’ll push, you pull” a guiding mantra and keep each other inspired on the journey ahead!
