For those of us who find ourselves traveling on a spiritual path, it can be very common to experience a few “growing pains” on our journey.  Things which hurt beyond belief, but which always result in more clarity, wisdom, and a deeper perspective.  Identifying these common struggles of the spiritual path can be helpful. It makes us realize we are not alone, and that there are certain archetypal energies that all people on a spiritual path end up encountering.

If you are experiencing some of these struggles, have faith. The change you are experiencing is occurring because you are becoming a more authentic and connected person.  The pain you feel is just a temporary catalyst that will propel you into your new self.

As you change, it’s natural to grieve the loss of aspects of your former self.  Don’t be attached to your old identity in your mind.  The key to deal with growing pains on the path to spiritual ascension is to accept the flow as life and to work with reality, not against it.

Moving forward as balanced creators means embracing giving and receiving, releasing and integrating, lulls and tangible movement, with deep appreciation and wholehearted acceptance for the gifts that come with each phase. You become completely willing participants, knowing with every fibre of your being that it is all part of the unconditional love and support of the universe. ~Archangel Gabriel

By Lissa Rankin MD
Guest Writer for Wake Up World

We live in a culture that says that the only way to get what you want is to DO DO DO and then DO some more. Push. Struggle. Make it happen. Put your nose to the grindstone. Work your ass off. Try. And never ever give up.

I once believed this was true. Surrender was something I only did after everything else my ego knew how to do had failed. Once I had exhausted every available option, I would fall to my knees, usually in tears, and surrender to the Divine.

Now I know there’s a whole other way to live, where surrender isn’t a last ditch effort once you’ve given up. It’s a spiritual practice wherein you surrender first, not because there aren’t actions to be taken, but because you trust that living in alignment with Divine Will is more easeful, more gratifying, and ultimately more fulfilling on a deep soul level than constantly chasing after the ego’s ever-grasping, never satisfied desires.

Beloveds, I talk to you firmly today. Many of your prayers are plaints. Plaints are pleas for something. Plaints are seemingly a more acceptable presentation of complaints. Let’s get right to it. I will tell you a common plea I hear from you.
 
On second thought, before I get right down to it, I had better say something introductory so there is no misunderstanding. It is better for you to present yourself to Me asking for a hand-out rather than not to present yourself to Me at all. In regard to this point, then I would tell you to complain to Me all day rather than to say nothing to Me. Better to mumble to Me than to say nothing to Me. Better to mumble mumbo-jumbo than to avert yourself from Me. Now, with that being said, let’s get down to it.
 
But wait. Why do I indicate a preference to your not coming to Me with petitions, as if I am a King you come to beg from, such as your wanting a land problem solved or money flowing in your pocket. In some way, you wish Me to intervene on your behalf. You want to be rescued, and you ask a special favor of your King of Holiness. In other words, you want to be singled out. You join a throng that asks for special favors and rescue. You come to Me pleading.
 
At first this seems humble, yet can you be so sure?
 
Before I get down to it, let Me repeat: Better to come to Me in any way than not to come to Me at all.
 

It often only takes a simple change to the way you think to change your outlook on life and the energy you’re putting out into the universe. Having destructive thoughts can lead to destructive, angry behaviour and it may feel as though you have no control over it, but you do. Similarly, thinking only positive thoughts and focusing on pushing out the negative thoughts can affect your behaviour. Your mind can be trained to focus on certain thought patterns and eventually, it will come naturally.

Always thinking “life is shit”, “I’ll never be good enough” and similar thoughts will only mean your actions will re-enforce these thoughts. The cliché’s “you get back what you put out into the universe” and “you are the way you think” may be overused and underrated but they are true. Recognising these negative thought patterns is the first step to changing the way you think. If you’re not willing to change and don’t believe there is a problem with thinking this way, then you won’t improve your thought patterns and ergo, won’t change your everyday life.

HJ: Challenges are inevitable… it’s all about how you perceive and approach them that makes all the difference and allows you to transform them from problems into possibilities.  One of my personal favorite ways to do that is to first accept the wisdom of the challenge that is showing up in your life, as on some level you called it in as an opportunity for growth and expansion and so it is truly a gift.  The second thing is to ask what is the ideal outcome?  The third thing to ask is how I can I create the ideal outcome?  And you get as close to it as possible.  That combined with the shifts Manal outlines in her wise article below should give you the tools to navigate anything that appears in your life rather gracefully.  And of course, the icing on the cake is acceptance of however things ultimately do turn out, as even if the situation does not end up how you ideally envisioned it, there is a reason for this is well that you may not understand until further down the line.  Sometimes what we perceive as a failure in the moment is often the foundation of a future success.

- Truth