inner growth – Morgan O. Smith

The Game of Black & White

How You Play the Game of Black & White Reveals Your Level of Spiritual Maturity

He doesn’t avoid the black squares. He just stops thinking they’re cursed.

You can tell how spiritually mature someone is by how they engage with contrast—not by how they escape it. The game of black and white is always being played. Light falls beside shadow, certainty walks with doubt, and gain is never far from loss. But while most are trying to land only on the white tiles, the one who has seen beyond duality walks freely across the whole board.

Spiritual growth doesn’t mean becoming invulnerable to darkness; it means seeing the darkness without contracting around it. A child in awareness recoils from discomfort and seeks the promise of the ‘light.’ A grown soul knows that neither is final, and neither needs to be resisted. The black square isn’t a punishment. The white square isn’t a reward. They are moves in the same dance.

The one who awakens learns to stop chasing symmetry. No longer obsessed with winning, they realize it was never about domination of light over dark, nor rising above contradiction. It was about presence through all of it. About meeting each moment with equanimity, whether wrapped in sorrow or shining in joy.

Some play to avoid pain. Others play to seek pleasure. But the wise one plays to see. And seeing, they cease to play as a someone at all.

They simply move.

Morgan O. Smith

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The Environmental Evolution of Being

Put Yourself in an Environment That Forces You to Evolve

Evolution is not a passive process. It requires friction, challenge, and a deliberate shift in how we engage with the world around us. Too often, we find ourselves clinging to the familiar – a comfort zone that insulates us from growth. But the truth is, stagnation often masquerades as comfort, and transformation rarely occurs in spaces that feel safe and predictable. To truly evolve, you must immerse yourself in environments that demand more of you than you believed possible.

Imagine a seed placed on barren soil. No matter how much potential it holds, without the right environment, it cannot thrive. The same principle applies to human consciousness. When you place yourself in an environment that challenges your assumptions, disrupts your routines, and stretches your understanding of who you are, evolution becomes inevitable.

Surround yourself with individuals who inspire you through their authenticity, resilience, and wisdom. Seek experiences that make you question your current perspective. Choose spaces that encourage vulnerability while fostering accountability. These environments act as mirrors, reflecting aspects of yourself that may have gone unnoticed or unacknowledged. Growth arises when you embrace what you see, even when it feels uncomfortable.

It is not the environment alone that transforms; it is your willingness to engage with it fully. A forest does not teach you to climb, but the presence of towering trees invites you to rise above. The ocean does not command you to swim, but its vastness compels you to move beyond your limits. Similarly, environments rich with opportunity and challenge do not demand evolution – they inspire it.

This process requires discernment. Not every difficult situation is fertile ground for growth. Some environments drain, diminish, or distort your sense of self. The key is to distinguish between spaces that stretch you and those that stifle you. Recognize the difference between discomfort that promotes expansion and harm that reinforces contraction.

Ask yourself: What environments am I currently choosing, and how are they shaping my trajectory? Are they calling me to deepen my understanding, expand my horizons, or confront the parts of myself that remain unseen? Or are they keeping me tethered to outdated patterns of thinking and being? These questions hold the power to shift your reality.

To evolve is to risk. It is to step into uncertainty with the faith that growth lies on the other side. No great transformation ever came from staying the same. If you feel the urge to grow, listen to it. Put yourself in the soil of challenge, water it with intention, and let your potential rise to meet the environment that beckons you forward.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Nature’s Unyielding Dance

Embracing Evolution Beyond Acceptance

In the grand expanse of existence, nature is a paradoxical entity, embodying acceptance while relentlessly pursuing change. This duality offers a profound reflection on the nature of being and becoming, serving as a mirror to our spiritual journeys. Nature, in its essence, accepts its form and function with a serene equanimity that belies the tumultuous undercurrent of evolution. It is in this serene acceptance that the seed of transformation is sown, propelling existence toward an ever-unfolding destiny.

Nature’s acceptance is not of passivity but of an understanding that the present moment is perfect in its imperfection. It acknowledges that at this very instant, it is the culmination of countless cycles of change, yet it is but a waypoint on an infinite journey of becoming. This realization is key to unlocking the mysteries of our spiritual paths, where acceptance and change coexist in a delicate balance.

The process of evolution, both in the external world and within the realms of our inner landscapes, is nature’s testament to the perpetual quest for growth and transcendence. Just as the earth’s flora and fauna adapt to the ever-changing environment, so too must we embrace the evolution of our spiritual understanding and enlightenment. Each moment is an opportunity to transcend the limitations of our previous selves, spurred by the acceptance of our current state of being.

In this dance of existence, where acceptance and evolution move in harmony, lies the essence of true enlightenment. It is a journey that acknowledges the beauty of the now while striving for the potential of tomorrow. Much like nature’s ceaseless evolution, our spiritual paths are marked by an unending quest for deeper understanding, connection, and oneness with the universe.

This reflection on nature’s duality serves as a reminder that in our search for spiritual awakening, we must hold space for both acceptance and the desire for transformation. It is in the embrace of this paradox that we find the freedom to evolve, not despite nature’s acceptance, but because of it.

Through contemplating the unyielding dance of nature, we are invited to explore the depths of our being, challenging ourselves to grow and evolve while remaining grounded in the acceptance of our present reality. Let us, therefore, take inspiration from the world around us, recognizing that our journey towards enlightenment is a dynamic interplay between being and becoming, where the acceptance of what is served as the foundation for what we are yet to become.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Tsunami of Spiritual Awakening

Navigating the Transformative Waves

In the journey of spiritual growth, reaching a state of full spiritual awakening can be likened to the immense power and transformative force of a tsunami. Just as a tsunami reshapes the landscape, a spiritual awakening at its highest peak redefines the contours of one’s inner world, unleashing profound changes that ripple through every aspect of existence.

**The Onset of the Wave**

The beginnings of a spiritual awakening are often subtle, much like the imperceptible swell of the ocean that precedes a tsunami. It may start with a sense of restlessness, a longing for something more profound than everyday experiences. This stage is marked by questioning – questioning one’s purpose, the nature of reality, and the deeper truths of existence.

**The Rising Tide**

As the wave gathers momentum, so does the awakening process. This is often where the most intense spiritual experiences occur. Individuals may experience moments of heightened awareness, profound insights, and a deep sense of interconnectedness with the universe. It’s a phase characterized by exhilaration and confusion, as old belief systems crumble and new understandings emerge.

**The Impact**

The peak of a spiritual awakening, akin to the moment a tsunami makes landfall, is both powerful and disruptive. It can upend long-held beliefs, relationships, and life structures. This phase can be challenging, as it demands letting go of the ego and the familiar constructs that once offered security. In its wake, it leaves a transformed landscape – a new way of being and perceiving the world.

**Navigating the Aftermath**

The aftermath of a spiritual tsunami is about integration and rebuilding. It involves finding a new equilibrium, where one’s heightened spiritual awareness becomes a natural part of daily life. This stage is about living from a place of deeper wisdom and compassion, both for oneself and others.

**Embracing the Journey**

A full spiritual awakening is not a destination but a continuous journey. It invites an ongoing exploration of the depths of one’s soul and the mysteries of the universe. It’s a path marked by both challenges and profound beauty, an opportunity to live life with a deeper sense of purpose and connection.

In conclusion, the journey of spiritual awakening is transformative and intense, akin to the power of a tsunami. It reshapes not just individual lives, but can also have a profound impact on the collective consciousness. Embracing this journey requires courage, openness, and a willingness to let go of the familiar shores to explore the depths of the spiritual ocean.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Spirituality Façade

Navigating Between Pretense and Authenticity

Introduction:
In an age where spirituality is often a trend, the differentiation between authentic spiritual pursuit and a mere display of piety becomes pivotal. If one merely adopts the garb of spirituality without authenticity, is it spirituality at all? This article seeks to explore the delicate balance between presenting oneself as spiritual and embarking on an authentic spiritual journey.

The Allure of Spiritual Image:
Social media, popular culture, and sometimes peer pressure portray spirituality as a serene and enlightened state. This depiction can be tantalizing. People are enticed to showcase themselves as spiritual beings, oftentimes to fit into a community, gain admiration or even as a refuge from self-accountability.

Defining Authenticity:
On the other side lies authenticity, which is the honesty and genuineness in one’s thoughts, actions, and intentions. Authenticity in spirituality means that one’s quest is not for show, but a sincere endeavour to seek meaning, connection, and perhaps even transcendence.

Dissecting Inauthentic Spirituality:
If spirituality is worn as a mask and not lived, it becomes hollow. For instance, one might engage in spiritual practices in public but live a life contrary to those principles in private. This lack of alignment between external display and internal values questions the very essence of one’s spirituality. Is it spirituality or is it pretense?

Authentic Spirituality – A Journey Within:
Authentic spirituality, by contrast, is unshackled by the need for external validation. It is a deeply personal journey, irrespective of the eyes that may or may not be watching. This path might be replete with doubts, stumbles, and personal challenges, but it’s real and grounded in honest pursuit.

The Purity Test:
So, how can one discern authentic spirituality? A question that individuals must ask themselves is whether their spiritual actions and pursuits would remain the same if there was no one to witness them. The answer can be very telling.

Conclusion:
To embrace spirituality is to undertake a journey of profound depth. It’s not just a robe one wears but the very fabric of one’s being. As such, authenticity should be its cornerstone. When spirituality is stripped of pretense, what remains is a raw and real quest – a journey that can be tumultuous, rewarding, and ultimately transformative. Let us aspire to ensure that our spiritual pursuits are rooted in the genuine soil of our being, not just the sands of outward display.