In the processes of transformative communication and personal development, it is important to aim our efforts at the ultimate goal of human life, namely, spiritual growth and understanding. Many choose to learn and master the principles of conscious living in order to increase sales, create more intimacy, or experience better communication at work. However, if we understand that improving in these areas only creates happiness when it supports our understanding of the ultimate goal of life, spiritual growth, than the process of self-realization becomes profoundly more satisfying.
When I think back on my Satvatove experience over the past year “spiritual growth” is the phrase that comes to me the most strongly, although I did not attend to attain this. I went to the seminars because I saw so many of the people in my life enjoying the benefits I mentioned. For example, at least three of my friends participated and were able to quit their day jobs to build a brand and business around their passions. This was very attractive to me. I went to the workshops and was able to do the same thing. The Foundational Seminar supported my ability to communicate to be understood, as well as become a more empathic listener, both skills being essential to achieving my career goal. The Advanced Course helped me let go of everything that was in the way of me believing in myself to live a fully expressive, empowered life. And so, upon the completion of these two courses, I set out to create what I felt I was meant to, a book and a series class assisting those affected by specific types of trauma to overcome the effects and live the life they are meant to.
In order to “live the life we are meant to” it is essential to inquire into the nature of who we are and why we are here. Realizing this, simply knowing that I could achieve my material and career goals, while thrilling at first, became mildly dissatisfying. And while I felt very accomplished, I also wondered if I was really serving anyone by helping them overcome their life challenges without taking these two major questions relating to spiritual growth into account. After all, on the material level, I was now experiencing the full manifestation of what I always thought my life purpose was, to help others overcome trauma. I realized that without situating personal growth in the context of spiritual growth, the work I was doing was interesting only to an extent. Helping those attending my classes and reading my writing to understand their spiritual nature and identity became the new challenge. And it is a work in progress. But as the saying goes, if we don’t know where we are going, we probably won’t get there. I do know that spiritual growth as process, and as goal, creates the personal development experience as a much more enlivening endeavor.
