“You seek it to find that you have it.
You’re within it when you think you’re without it.
You can’t see it or know it but you never leave home without it.
We can’t name it; but when we see it, we call it a spiritual awakening.
So allow it to discover its power.”
Everyone wants the ‘best’, isn’t it? What is the ‘best’ way to achieve spiritual awakening? It’s just like asking, “What is the best way to turn off the lights?” Whether you use your hands or legs, it doesn’t matter. Just switch off the light.
The same thing goes for spiritual awakening. There is no best way to achieve it, and you can’t achieve something you already have.
What if what you’re seeking is already inside of you but you haven’t ‘realized’ it yet?
The notion of spiritual awakening has been around for centuries and can be observed through almost all religions in the world. Call it ‘enlightenment’; call it ‘bliss’; or even ‘nirvana’, spiritual awakening begins the moment a person steps back and ‘wakes up’ with a new sense and meaning. 
The spiritual awakening journey you seek seems to occur in an exotic place or after a traumatic life experience. It causes us to question our entire existence – Who am I? Why am I here? It’s like waking up from your everyday life and stepping into an awareness of higher spirituality.
In simpler terms, spiritual awakening helps us see beyond our ordinary eyes. We now understand the basis of the universe and you feel more open to the truths of life. 
We keep living our lives thinking that money, power, and fame are important to attain true happiness, but that is not true. Happiness is something that is embedded inside you. You have to look within yourself and spiritual awakening helps you find it.
What causes spiritual awakening?
Spiritual awakening can be triggered by anything and it takes numerous forms; from a trip to an island, the loss of a job, the loss of innocence, death of a loved one, or a near-death experience. Regardless of what causes it, the experience shakes your world and you see things with a new eye.
Avidya
Spiritual awakening represents the lifting of ignorance or aviyida which means “incorrect or false understanding.” It is a state of not knowing what you don’t know. Through the process of spiritual awakening, you get punched out by the limiting belief and ignorance towards a destination of self-realization.
This is mapped into your consciousness and they are clues and steps that indicate you’re on the path of awakening. Let’s explore each stage in greater detail and the simplest way to achieve spiritual awakening:
The call to awakening
This call represents a break from your life and a sign to start your journey of self-discovery. It is the awakening incident that spurs up from the subconscious, catches your attention, and compels you to look at life differently. 
At this point, you begin to question everything you once knew. You begin to clear certain habits out of your life and invite new beliefs in. During this phase, it is common to feel lost, disconnected, or confused.
Rock bottom
This stage of spiritual awakening is marked with a rough patch. This is where your soul strips away all aspects of old habits, beliefs, and practices. It’s very challenging and you will likely hit rock bottom. But once you’re down, you will be forced to make real changes.
Choosing your path
Once you have made it out of the rocky phase, you are ready to create your new life. The limited worldview can no longer contain your expanding awareness. You’re in search of answers – trying out new hobbies, religion, relationships, etc., to help you remap your worldview.
Following your path
The next stage calls you to be a spiritual seeker. Having chosen your path, with consistent practice, happiness and joy become your ground state. Regular practice removes mental, physical, and emotional blockage that obstructs the manifestation of your desires.
The soul sessions
Think you have achieved spiritual enlightenment? Not yet. This phase begins when you are building an actual through which your spirit can thrive. This usually comes with trials and errors. Growth can be a very uncomfortable process. It is not uncommon to face struggles, self-deceptions, and other external influences that halt your spiritual journey. This period can take years or even decades. 
Awareness
And finally, we have awareness. No longer striving for spiritual enlightenment, you now exist in oneness with your inner self. By this point, you’ve gotten to know your soul, you’ve figured out a lifestyle that works for you, a permanent shift has taken place and you’ve awakened fully to your true identity.
You have full awareness of your divinity and you live in service to others, which brings you joy, happiness, and contentment.
Here are some signs that you’re going through a spiritual awakening or you are about to embark on one:
- You feel disconnected, overwhelmed, confused, and detached from the things and people you used to enjoy.
- Whether it means quitting your job to find your passion, or exploring a new religion, your beliefs are gradually changing,
- The desire to find meaning and fulfillment within your spirituality becomes an important part of your life.
- You are approaching what you do with a deeper sense of service.
- You feel more intuitive and connected with yourself.
- As you begin to feel more connected with the world around you, you begin to feel empathy for people suffering.
- You feel compassionate towards others.
Bottom line
If you want to make space in your life to start your spiritual journey, the best way to go about it is to develop a weekly or monthly spiritual practice like practicing mindfulness or meditation,
Practice love and compassion. Be gentle with yourself. Spiritual awakening is a journey so trust that every occurrence will gradually unfold and fit into a bigger picture.
While it may not be easy, it is worth it.
