#ritual

Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence. ↗

— Henri J.M. Nouwen

#christianity #faith #feelings #identity #rejection

Little faults become great, and even monstrous in our eyes, in proportion as the pure light of God increases in us; just as the sun in rising, reveals the true dimensions of objects which were dimly and confusedly discovered during the night. ↗

— François Fénelon

#self-knowledge #sin #spiritual-growth #self-growth

How my eyes see, perspective, is my key to enter into His gates. I can only do so with thanksgiving. If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything? And if I can give thanks for the good things, the hard things, the absolute everything, I can enter the gates to glory. Living in His presence is fullness of joy- and seeing shows the way in. ↗

— Ann Voskamp

#spirituality #christian-living

My life is my testimony. ↗

— L.M. Fields

#spiritual #truth #inspirational

To find stability within the world, one must first find stability within. ↗

— Tyler J. Hebert

#life #motivational #oneness #society #spirituality

It is in your hands to make life miserable or happy. No religion, spiritual leaders or knowledge will ever make you fully satisfied. ↗

— Santosh Kalwar

#religion #satisfaction #spirituality #life

Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak. ↗