It’s Maundy Thursday and we have just arrived home from our yearly “Visita Iglesia” which is the practice of visiting seven churches where we reflect on the Way of the Cross.

I’m tired but inspired to write something about my faith in connection to personal development.

This is a time for many Catholics like me to reflect on our faith and the role it plays in our lives.

For some of us, our faith is something that we keep separate from other aspects of our lives, such as our personal development journey.

But what if our faith and our personal growth are actually deeply interconnected?

At its core, personal development is about becoming the best version of ourselves. It’s about identifying our strengths and weaknesses, and working to improve ourselves in order to achieve our goals and live a fulfilling life. And as Catholics, we have a unique perspective on what it means to be the best version of ourselves.

The concept of self-improvement is not new to our faith. It is, in fact, at the heart of our spiritual journey.

We are called to become more like Christ, to grow in love and virtue, and to live a life of service to others.

I remember, there was even a time when Jesus told His followers, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”.

And just as we work to develop our physical, mental, and emotional health, we also have a responsibility to develop our spiritual health.

So how can we incorporate and live our faith as we continue on this path towards personal development?

If you’re Catholic or another type of Christian, here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Pray and meditate.

Just as we take time to care for our physical and mental health, we also need to take time to care for our spiritual health. Prayer and meditation are powerful tools that can help us connect with God, cultivate inner peace, and gain clarity and perspective on our lives.

I remember during the first year of the pandemic, I used to cry almost every day. I kept remembering the Spanish flu documentary I watched years before the pandemic, and the story of one survivor who found himself to be the only surviving student of his class when they were finally allowed to go out of their homes.

I believe that the only thing that kept me sane was my faith and prayer life. It was where I found hope and peace. I don’t think I would have been able to fulfill my duties as a teacher without prayer. I probably would have had a nervous breakdown without it.

Prayer also gives me hope and confidence in my dreams. Whenever I start to feel down, insecure or demotivated, I pray and I gain back my motivation and strength to pursue the things I want.

Some people believe in the power of the universe.

I believe in God who created the universe.

And so I pray to Him to strategically place the things I need in my path and to help me recognize and take advantage of them.

2. Reflect on scripture.

Scripture is filled with wisdom and guidance for how to live a virtuous life. Take time to read and reflect on passages that speak to you, and consider how you can apply these lessons to your own life.

You may want to write your reflection down in a journal so that you’ll have something to go back to later to help you see how far you’ve grown in the spiritual aspect of your life.

3. Practice gratitude.

Gratitude is an essential component of personal development and spiritual growth. Take time each day to reflect on the blessings in your life, and offer thanks to God for all that you have.

I suggest having a gratitude journal or a space in your daily planner where you can list down at least three things you’re grateful for each day. Doing so will help keep you happy. No matter how your day went, if you have at least three things listed down, your day is actually far better than most people.

4. Live a life of service:

As Catholics, we are called to live a life of service to others.

Your talents are God’s gifts to you but how and where you use your talents is your gift to God.

Volunteer your time and talents to those in need, and seek out opportunities to make a difference in your community.

Everyone has something to give. There is nobody who is so poor as to be unable to give anything. You can give in three ways.

You can give your time. This will teach you how to multi-task and manage your time better.

You can give your talent. This will help you develop and improve your talents and skills even more.

You can give your treasure. This will teach you how to manage your tangible resources.

Whether it’s your time, talent, treasure or a mix of all three that you use to serve, you will develop important values that you need to improve your character and become a better individual.

5. Connect with a community.

Just as you need support and accountability in your personal development journey, you also need a community to support you in your faith. Connect with a local parish or faith-based organization, and seek out opportunities to grow in your faith alongside others.

Connecting Our Faith with Our Personal Development Journey Is Incredibly Powerful

Connecting our faith with our personal development journey is not only possible, but it can also be incredibly powerful.

Every religion has a set of rules one has to follow. At least that’s what I know about most religions. Following rules alone already develops self-discipline and moral standards that are important in all areas of one’s life.

Just thinking about the gifts I have received from God already tells me how I should live my life.

One example was when I think about how God has given me a healthy body, I end up with a greater resolve not to indulge in too much sweets or junk food. I always think about how I should take good care of my body because it’s a gift from Him.

Another example was there was one time in my life when I was tempted for a year to live a life of mediocrity because it was where I was most comfortable. But then upon reflection, I told myself, “Wait a minute, what am I doing? God gave me all these amazing gifts and I just want to live small.” I realized it was time to stop “hiding”. I realized that I was not glorifying God with the way I was living my life.

When you take your religion seriously, you will have this deep desire to become the best version of yourself. This comes from your desire to please God whom you love and to attain life eternal.

You see, by incorporating the teachings of your faith into your daily life, you can cultivate inner peace, gain clarity and perspective on your life, and become the best version of yourself – in mind, body, and spirit.

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