Spiritual Maturity Is A Lifelong Journey

What does spiritual maturity mean to you? Every time I ask someone this question, I get all kinds of different answers.

A Baby Boomer I asked said it meant going to church, donating to charities, studying the Bible, and following the Ten Commandments.

When I asked a Gen Z client, she said it meant minding your own business and not caring what others think of you because it is none of your business what they think. She also said she was a Wiccan and didn’t believe in wishing negative energy on others, because she knew it would only come back to her if she did.

I recently asked four people at a social gathering, and they had different opinions on the subject. They were in their 30s and 40s and had a young teenager with them. Interestingly, one thing they all agreed on was that it is spiritually mature to create healthy boundaries with family and friends for your own mental and spiritual well-being. One woman shared, for exxample, that if she hadn’t stopped hanging out with one of her friends, she would have hit rock bottom emotionally.

“I just could not put up with the way she treated me. I used to spend a lot of time stressing about the things she would say and do. I was always overthinking every toxic interaction with her, and our so-called friendship was not good for my mental state,” she explained. “So, for me, spiritual maturity is walking away from those who bring you down.”

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself ~ Rumi

I could not agree more. In my opinion, if someone continues to insult you, betray your trust, or hurt your feelings in any way, it is a clear sign of their spiritual immaturity. Spiritual maturity means not only wishing others well and not wanting to see their downfall, but striving to support and uplift everyone around us. For me personally, spiritual maturity also means constantly evolving, keeping what works for you and discarding what doesn’t.

Most of all, spiritual maturity for me means recognizing that I am a soul, a spiritual being having an earthly experience in a physical body, and that this comes with a certain karmic responsibility and a divine duty to myself, others, and the planet we inhabit.

I also loved what my guides made me aware of, that the animal kingdom and Mother Nature have much to teach us about true spiritual maturity. We can learn a great deal about spiritual maturity simply by spending time with our pets. Our sweet furry companions are much wiser and more spiritually aware than many people realize.

I think the most important thing to understand is that spiritual maturity is a journey, not a destination. It is an ongoing process of deepening our spiritual awareness, wisdom and understanding. It’s not just about accumulating mystical knowledge or following certain esoteric practices.

Just as there are elderly people who act very immaturely, or teenagers who are wise beyond their years, spiritual maturity is not determined by age, knowledge, education or even life experience. Over the years, I have met a few people who have spent decades studying spirituality, experimenting with various religions, or dabbling in a long list of esoteric and mystical practices, but who remain spiritually very unwise and immature. Spiritual maturity is not about how much you know or what you believe, but who you are and how you behave.

The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it ~ Thomas Merton

Spiritual maturity is about profound inner transformation and personal growth in one’s relationship to the Divine, to oneself, to others, and to the world. This process involves the following key aspects:

Self-Awareness & Self-Control: Recognizing our own imperfections, emotions, and behaviors and striving to manage them constructively. We must cultivate spiritual virtues and personal values such as patience, humility, compassion, and temperance.

Faith & Belief: A mature spiritual life is characterized by a deep, unwavering faith or conviction in personal beliefs that guides your thoughts and actions, even when faced with difficult challenges and doubts.

Release & Detachment: This doesn’t mean isolation or indifference, but the ability to remain internally free of attachment to material possessions, results, and even one’s own ego. It is about letting go of what does not serve you and not clinging to ideas and things that cause harm to yourself or others.

Growth & Learning: Spiritually mature people understand that spiritual development is an ongoing journey. They embrace opportunities for learning, growth, and transformation throughout their lives.

Inner Peace: Spiritual maturity is also the ability to maintain peace and inner calm in various circumstances, rooted in a deep sense of connection to the divine or a higher power.

Community & Relationships: Spiritually mature people strive to develop and maintain healthy, supportive relationships and contribute to their community in ways that reflect their spiritual values.

Compassion & Service: A spiritually mature person understands, empathizes with, and selflessly serves others, recognizing the interconnectedness of everyone and everything.

Spiritual Practices: Regular engagement in practices such as prayer and meditation cultivates a sense of connection to the divine, enhances mindfulness, and promotes spiritual reflection.

Self-Love & Self-Care: Nurturing ourselves is an often overlooked aspect of spiritual maturity. Caring for one’s own physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is not only essential for personal health and wellness but is also a prerequisite for being able to help and serve others effectively.

Spiritual maturity is highly personal and varies widely across faiths, spiritual paths, and individual life experiences. It’s the result of a conscious, ongoing effort to grow spiritually and live in alignment with one’s deepest values and beliefs.