Why do we say that psychology is a tool for spiritual unfolding?
It seems to me that the foundation of spiritual unfolding is self-knowledge. To support this process, spiritual paths offer us many tools. In Cafh, we have meditation, exercises in stillness, study and reading that help us deepen our understanding of ourselves, retreats, weekly group meetings, accompaniment and guidance, retrospective examination, and many others.
In my experience, all of these practices have helped me come to know myself and, on that basis, develop my potential to the fullest extent possible. Yet I have come to realize that I want to go deeper—to explore the habitual level from which I move through life, act, react, feel, think, and face its challenges. This level is largely unconscious or subconscious and is shaped by a personal history that began even before I was born.
While I was in my mother’s womb, she transmitted her personal world to me: her emotions, beliefs, fears, and childhood experiences. Her own way of being, in turn, was shaped by her culture and by her experiences from childhood—even from the time she was in the womb of her mother, my grandmother, carrying her own world within her. We can go even further back, through previous generations and our family history.
In this way, I have come to realize that, in many respects, I am not simply who I believe myself to be. I am also the person others have helped shape, even as I continue to shape myself through my own experiences.
This realization is the starting point for my journey of self-knowledge. If I seek psychological support that helps me explore and discover those hidden corners of my unconscious where the deepest roots of my present behavior lie, I feel that the work I do with the spiritual tools Cafh provides is strengthened. I can then move forward with greater clarity and confidence, reaching more deeply into my roots.
Why do I act the way I do?
Neuroscience tells us that a significant portion of our decisions and behavior is unconscious, and that the roots of the unconscious reach much further back than our present circumstances. Where do these patterns come from? They may arise from moments we do not even remember.
Often, I react without thinking. Psychological therapy can help me explore the causes behind my choices and uncover parts of my personal history. It may even help me become aware of influences from close relatives that may be transmitted through epigenetic processes. When I am unaware of these roots, I may have little conscious access to the patterns that hold me back in my spiritual unfolding.
Whatever form psychotherapy takes, it can be a valuable aid.
Why do I reject psychotherapy?
It seems that fear is a constant in human experience, and it can prevent me from truly discovering myself. Fear of what? Fear of the pain of recognizing in myself the very characteristics I so readily criticize in others.
It is easier to see in another person what I dislike about myself, or what that person reflects of something I would like to have but do not.
I am afraid to know myself and to allow others to know me. I prefer to hold on to the image I have created of myself—an image I may wish to preserve because it has helped me function in society or because I want to remain within my comfort zone. Yet this image can also become a barrier that prevents me from knowing myself and, consequently, from developing spiritually.
What bothers me may reflect something in me
There is a saying in psychology: what bothers me may reflect something in myself. It can be painful, but it can also help me discover characteristics I do not want to acknowledge in myself. When I have the courage to face them, I can consciously choose the changes I want to make and continue moving forward in my process of spiritual unfolding.
My reality is where I focus my attention
How can I work on myself if I do not truly know myself? If I deceive myself—and it is surprisingly easy to do so—I may focus on those characteristics I accept in myself or those that are less painful to acknowledge. I may work on them while overlooking deeper issues, and they may therefore remain superficial.
Here we enter, once again, the realm of psychology, which can strengthen our ability to look honestly at ourselves in the mirror, without fear. Ultimately, the person I see there is who I am, not who I imagine myself to be. And the person I am is a valuable human being.
I must begin by accepting myself and, from there, embark on the adventure of coming to know myself.
I have realized that my self-concept is like an armor I wear as I move through the world, and taking it off can be painful. But if I do not dare to remove it, genuine change will be difficult. I may even deceive myself in my own spiritual unfolding, making the process slower or more painful than it needs to be.
I do not see the world as it is, but as I am
This is a deeply illuminating truth that can guide me toward self-knowledge and inner work, helping me develop my greatest potential.
When we sincerely commit ourselves to spiritual unfolding, we want to know ourselves. We therefore need to pay attention to the way we interpret the circumstances and experiences of our lives. The meaning we give to what happens to us shapes the quality of our thoughts, feelings, decisions, and actions. From this mental structure, we gradually shape our entire lives.
Our brains are highly flexible, which means that we can reshape our patterns of thinking and responding. Knowing what I want gives direction to my life. And it does not stop there: what I do, or fail to do, affects others as well. For this reason, it is of fundamental importance to become conscious of our own lives and of the influence we have on the world around us.
If I commit myself to this process, I can give structure and continuity to my inner work through a spiritual path.
So, the invitation is:
To commit myself to knowing myself and developing spiritually, and to cultivate within myself what I wish to see in the world.
