Spirituality is often thought of as being connected to our faith and relationship with the divine, but there is another type of spiritual emptiness that comes from trying to achieve success and recognition in the world. This kind of emptiness is a result of striving to accomplish goals and earn the respect or esteem of others, without looking inward to the core of who we are. It can be almost like an addiction, where the more successful someone becomes, the more they need to fill the hollow void within.
Take for example, a college professor who has achieved tenure and become highly respected within their academic field. While it is an incredible accomplishment and something to be proud of, it doesn't bring true fulfillment unless the professor also has a deep connection to themselves, their purpose and a spiritual practice that helps them reflect on their own journey. Without this added dimension, life can become shallow and devoid of meaning.
The same can be said for a corporate executive who climbs their way up the ladder to becoming CEO of a large company. The prestige and paycheck may be impressive, but they could find themselves spiritually empty even while in the most powerful position. Making decisions solely based on money, power or status can prevent this person from engaging with their higher self.
At times it can even feel like an identity crisis; when success becomes our only defining characteristic, the rest of who we are can start to fade away. Relationships can suffer because there's no time to engage on an emotional level, or even with nature or the outdoors. Once material possessions become the focus, everything else fades into the background.
The truth is, it's important to find balance between achieving success in worldly matters and deepening our perceptive into our own essence. Taking moments away from the frantic pace of daily life and simply listening to ourselves can help alleviate some of this emptiness, by reconnecting us back to a deeper part of who we are.
Journaling, meditating and even talking to a trusted mentor can offer insight into underlying feelings that might otherwise remain buried under piles of responsibilities and concerns. Adding simple practices like taking a daily walk or putting out the intention for the day can begin to quell some of the uneasiness that comes with spiritual emptiness.
Ultimately it is easy to become focused on meeting goals and basking in external recognition, without considering what lies beneath. Taking some time each day just to connect with our inner wisdom and recognize our personal power can help us transcend achievement alone as a source of satisfaction. Achieving success in this world is wonderful, but if we don't nurture our soul along the way then it will all feel futile in the end.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now