Friday, March 1, 2019

Spiritual Growth in the Modern Age


One of the biggest challenges in these modern times is to keep our spirituality in check despite a society which is focused on financial prosperity, power, and the influence of others.  In this age of so many modern conveniences, forming our own feelings an opinions without allowing ourselves to be influenced by everything we see and hear on TV, the internet, magazines, and other people struggling to "keep up with the Joneses" can be a tall order as well.  The most discouraging part is that so many aspects of this media are centered around our physical desires and interests.  This can lead to a vast inner emptiness, a lack of awareness of our true selves, and limited (if any) attention to our spiritual or philosophical aspects.  Such a state can make it challenging, to say the least, for the modern person to balance the physical and the spiritual.

One of the first keys to the care and feeding of your spirituality is to try some introspection.  Looking inside yourself is partly about recalling things that you've done, or that have been done to you.  However, this is also a drop in the bucket in comparison to what else there is.  When you assess your feelings, what motivates you, why you make the decisions that you do, and your priorities, you are gaining insight into your true self.  Introspection is a learnable skill which can help you to know yourself on a deeper and more intimate level.  It can be difficult, or even shocking, to come to certain truths about yourself, but remember -- don't judge yourself, be objective.  And, above all, look for places where you can improve upon the self you know.

After you have thoroughly examined your inner life, it is time to determine the direction that you'd like to take things.


To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. In Psychology, realizing oneís full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianism, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that lifeís meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm.  Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call other people ìbrothers and sistersî even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Award Recipient: Techies 4U, Inc.!

The Sage Institute is pleased to present our newest award recipient, Techies 4 U, Inc., with our Small Business of the Year award!  This great company has shown a remarkable amount of growth and improvement during its relatively short time in business, and as such has earned this honor for its dedication to success, growth, and innovation.  

Techies 4 U is a business that is based in the midwestern USA which prides itself on attention to detail when serving its customers.  This company has been providing exemplary service to their customers since 2005, with a mission statement that shows they understand the importance of making technology easy and accessible for all people.

We are so thrilled to select this awesome small business for our Small Business of the Year!  Congratulations to Techies 4 U, and we wish you much continued success!

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Award Recipient: WHYBMNetwork's deCODED Sexes

deCODED Sexes is a SnapChat based show from the WHYBMNetwork that highlights the differences between gender roles in a creative, fun, and uplifting way.  The show stars a panel of guests who answer questions, make comments, and inform the viewer about a variety of subjects.

One of the things we love about this show is that while it has a humorous and lighthearted tone, its main intent is actually to inform and teach while it entertains.  Issues such as sociology, gender relations, and societal expectations based on our identities are highlighted and challenged.  The panel shares experiences that they have had based on relationships or other experiences, and the audience laughs along while they’re also thinking and relating to the characters.

We at the Sage Institute are proud to present deCODED Sexes with a Media Innovation Award!  Tackling complicated subject matters in ways that are relatable and easy to access is the hallmark of quality programming.  We love deCODED Sexes, and can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Check them out online!

Add WHYBMNetwork on Snapchat: http://smarturl.it/whybmnetwork
Instagram: http://instagram.com/whybmnetwork 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/whybmnetwork
#deCODEDSexes Merch Shop - http://smarturl.it/deCODEDShop

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Award Recipient: Rashawn Johnson

The Sage Institute is proud to bestow an award for Excellence in the Arts to a new author with a positive message for the world.  Rashawn Johnson's literary works center around spirituality, positivity, and advice for unlocking your true potential.  Because we love surrounding ourselves with people who immerse themselves in the positive, we think that Rashawn Johnson is definitely someone you will want to follow.  His literary themes center around the importance of following your beliefs when choosing which directions to take in your life path; there is power in the simple act of having faith.

We want to extend our thanks to Rashawn for sharing these lessons with the world.  Thank you, Rashawn, for everything that you do, and congratulations on receiving our award for Excellence in the Arts!

Sunday, July 31, 2016

James Bowie: Humanitarian Award Recipient!

I am pleased to announce our newest recipient of the Sage Institute's Humanitarian Award.  James Bowie has worked tirelessly to make this world a better place, one person at a time.  Through his amazing efforts with Hull Homeless Outreach, a nonprofit organization in Kingston Upon Hull in the United Kingdom, James has been able to transform lives and make true, lasting change.

He founded this organization in 2013, and has been helping to provide the homeless with a voice ever since.  Together, with those who have volunteered their time and effort, James has been able to empower others to be their very best.  Jame's Bowie's organization does not turn away anyone who is in need of their services; the mission statement of this great charity includes the words, "to believe and make others believe in sharing, caring, and helping those in need."

If any of my readers are seeking more information about this great organization, check out Hull Homeless Outreach's Facebook page to learn more about how to get involved.  You can also have a look at their website, which has links to GoFundMe and explains other ways to help.

We are proud to present James Bowie with this award.  People like James make the world a better place by not just helping others, but by inspiring others to do so as well.  Thank you, James and Hull Homeless Outreach, for everything that you do!

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