Finding Peace Through Spirituality: My Journey to Inner Groundedness

In 2024, I’ve deepened my spirituality in a way I never anticipated, and it has brought me an immense sense of peace. But getting here has been anything but a straight path. My spiritual journey has been full of twists and turns, moments of doubt, and revelations that have shaped who I am today.

Growing Up with Religion

As a child, my family went to church regularly. We attended Sunday school, said prayers before meals, and upheld traditional religious values. Yet, even as a kid, I felt disconnected from these practices. Church felt rigid and boring, especially as it didn’t reflect my cultural background—it was overwhelmingly white. The rituals felt more performative than transformative.

Despite this, I decided as I got older to develop my own relationship with God. Praying became a form of reflection for me, a way to process my day and cleanse my mind. But even then, I was searching for something deeper, something more meaningful than the religious structure I grew up with.

Questioning Belief

In my early twenties, I began encountering people who openly rejected the idea of God. Their logic challenged me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. They made valid points that resonated with my own doubts about organized religion. Around the same time, I started passively exploring Buddhism. Its teachings intrigued me, but I didn’t dive in too deeply at first.

Over time, my logical mind couldn’t reconcile the contradictions I saw in religion. The concept of heaven and hell, the exclusivity of one religion being “the truth” while others were dismissed—it all felt arbitrary. I started identifying as atheist, though that left me feeling raw and exposed, lacking the comfort that faith can provide.

Eventually, I transitioned to agnosticism. I couldn’t ignore the unexplainable aspects of life, the things that felt bigger than logic. I didn’t know if I believed in God, but I knew there was something—a force, an energy, a universe—that connected us all.

Discovering Buddhism and the Universe

My attraction to Buddhism grew over time, not because I saw it as a religion, but because it felt like a guide to life. Its tenets of peace and mindfulness resonated deeply with me. Unlike the demands of traditional religion, Buddhism felt gentle. It wasn’t about strict rules but about cultivating inner balance and compassion.

I also began to lean into the idea of the universe. Seeing the universe as a guiding force gave me a sense of agency and responsibility in my own life. Unlike the concept of an external God controlling everything, the universe felt collaborative, dynamic, and liberating.

Building a Spiritual Practice

As I focused more on inner peace, my spiritual practice evolved. Listening to myself became an intentional discipline. I minimized external distractions, meditated, processed my thoughts, and became open to signs from the universe.

This practice required creating space for stillness. I stopped filling my life with constant activity or overstimulation because that disrupted my inner world. In this stillness, I began to hear my intuition more clearly. I felt the universe speaking to me, guiding me toward decisions, and helping me let go of relationships, jobs, and habits that no longer served me.

The Impact of Spirituality on My Life

This has been one of the most transformative years of my life. My spirituality has given me the clarity and courage to take risks, embrace change, and remain grounded through life’s challenges. It has brought blessings I never could have anticipated.

I now encourage my clients to explore their own sense of spirituality. As a therapist, I used to keep my spiritual beliefs separate from my work. But it has become such an integral part of who I am that it naturally finds its way into my sessions. I’ve seen how a lack of spiritual grounding can lead to anxiety and disconnection, and I believe that reconnecting with something larger than ourselves—whatever that looks like—can be incredibly healing.

Vibrating Peace and Kindness

One of the most affirming moments this year came from a compliment I received during a massage appointment. The therapist told me she could feel my energy—calm, vibrant, and kind—and it made her happy to work with me. That moment reinforced what I already knew: my inner peace radiates outward, and it’s a reflection of the spiritual grounding I’ve cultivated.

Final Thoughts

This journey has been deeply personal, full of exploration, and at times, uncomfortable. But it has led me to a place of profound peace and knowing within myself. I credit this entirely to my spirituality—an evolving, fluid connection to the universe, Buddhism, and my inner wisdom.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that spirituality doesn’t have to fit into a box. It doesn’t have to follow rigid rules or traditions. It’s about finding what resonates with your soul and what helps you navigate the complexities of life with grace, courage, and peace.

I hope this help.

Until next time...

-Alana