Some of the feeling behind the new goal is the same. It is a refinement as well as a redefining. The thing is “find my spiritual self” is pretty vague and not something that I really need to do. I know my spiritual side pretty well, though I too often do not take the time to address spiritual needs.
It’s not a religious thing. Religion is the belief and ritual thing. Those have a place, and even sometimes can help address a person’s spiritual needs. Too often Religion fails at that, though.
Spirit is essence, and need, and hunger, joy and pain. It connects and holds, as well as frees. In community, when good, spirituality provides context and meaning. This maybe gets back to religion a bit.
The problem with religion is that while the myths are powerful and comforting—the rituals beautiful and moving, too often there is dissonance with a creed, either stated or implied. Sometimes I can kind of do what I believe others are doing (many, not all) and kind of skirt the whole creedal thing in favor of the pretty music and words. Other times I can feel like a fraud or play actor in the midst of believers.
There are other ways of being in community and many very open ones, it’s really a matter of finding one that fits.
