Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Practices From the Inside Out: Recognizing There is More

Practices From the Inside Out: Recognizing There is More

Last updated on: July 21, 2018 at 6:00 pm by Greg Richardson

Practices From the Inside Out: Recognizing There is More 2018-07-21T18:00:40-08:00 Greg Richardson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Recognizing There is More

We stand on a beach looking out over the expanse of an ocean. No matter how much water we can actually see, there is more. Watching wave after wave reach the shore we know there are more to come.

We look up at the night sky knowing no matter how much we can see, there is more. Stars beyond our ability to count and keep track, and there are still more beyond them.

It is not only water in the ocean or the night sky of which there is more. We may take a moment to reflect on a difficulty we face and realize it is just the beginning.

Life can feel like an unending series of challenges or tests. We have accomplished so much, but always seem to have more to do.

When we are tired or discouraged having more to face can be disheartening. Looking out over the ocean or up into the sky can give us feelings if insignificance.

We can see facing more as exhausting and intimidating. There are times when we want a few moments of relief, but there is more for us to do. More responsibility to meet, more lessons to learn, more questions to answer, more which needs doing.

Why is there so much more? Is it more than we can handle? What if we get to a point where we cannot do more?

The idea of more can become a burden for us to bear. Some of us believe if we want more we need to do more. Other people feel an expectation or a duty to do more.

There is a sense of unrelenting demand in the idea there is always another wave coming toward us.

If there is always more, will we ever have enough?

How Do We Recognize There is More?

There are times when we begin to feel we have done everything we set out to do.

We may have accomplished our own personal goals. It could be the results of a very good year. We may have followed good advice, exceeded expectations, even gotten things under control. It is possible we even have overcome opposition and outscored competitors.

There are also times when we feel there is no real point to continuing.

Do we feel hopeless about making a difference? It could feel like we no longer believe in what we are doing. We might be discouraged, tired, ready to give up and stop trying. Do we see ourselves as out of options, out of time, out of luck?

People come to me for many different reasons, looking for different answers. Some people want to become better or stronger. There are people who have been told they need to see me.

Some people would like to develop new skills and learn to do things in new ways. Others want to find peace, happiness, or calm which has eluded them.

Some people are looking for someone who will listen to them.

Each of us is seeking something more. We feel dissatisfied and disappointed with what we have found so far. Each of us wants to heal the pain of lacking the depth and joy for which we hunger.

The people who come to me want more than reassurance or comfort. They want something real which will make their lives different. People coming to me are looking for deep, underlying truths which transcend the challenges of their lives.

Together, we work to discover and explore the deep joy where they can find the more they seek.

We work together to recognize there is more.

We Practice Recognizing There Is More

The night sky and the ocean are not the only places there is more. Our lives are not merely collections of more challenges to overcome or more lessons to learn.

Spiritual life shows us there is more within us as well as in the world.

The value of experiencing more in the world is it helps us find more within ourselves. Spiritual life shows us, again and again, our expanding potential.

As we experience fear or frustration, we recognize we could be and do more. When we do not meet our own expectations we see ourselves more clearly. One of our most significant realizations may be the silliness of our own expectations.

Each step on our path shows us how to take the next step more wisely.

Every breath we take reminds us we have untapped potential within us.

When our bodies get tired we rest. Our minds get tired and we stop thinking to listen to sacred stillness. When our hearts grow heavy and tired we laugh and we cry. We remember and depend on the more within us.

The more in the world around us can feel overwhelming when we forget the more within us. We remember and recognize the power of the more we carry with us.

Watching the ocean reminds us we are like the ocean with more waves heading toward us. Looking into the night sky we recognize we are filled with more stars than we can see.

The Power of Recognizing There Is More

We do not recognize there is more within us once for all. The challenges and expectations in the world can distract from the power of what is within us.

We may have been told all our lives we have no more within us. It can be easy for us to forget.

Spiritual life flows around us and within us showing us there is more. When we pay too much attention to difficulties and obstacles spiritual life reminds us who we are.

Our fear, frustration, and fatigue are temporary manifestations when we forget there is more within us. It may be a lifetime practice for us to recognize there is more.

We remind ourselves by repeating, aloud or in stillness, “There is more.”

Where are you looking for more today, this week, this month, this year?

Who will you trust to guide you as you seek more from within yourself?

[Image by Saltvand]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual life mentor and leadership coach in Southern California. He is a recovering attorney and university professor, and a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com, and his email address is [email protected].

Blog

Spiritual Practices

Previous Post

July 17, 2018

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Many Silences, One Stillness

Next Post

July 24, 2018 Listening to Sacred Stillness: Pushing Out From the Shore

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Proverbs 23:4-5 warn against pursuing too much?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Status Wealth Power Knowledge