Why I’m Not Spiritual

Recently I was listening to a podcast interviewing one of my favorite authors, Sonia Choquette, when I heard something that I can’t get out of my head. I don’t remember if she or the interviewer said it, but regardless, the statement was really powerful:

“I am not spiritual, I am Spirit.”

I hear a lot of my fellow Millennials recite the vague, underwhelming adage, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.” Many people my age don’t want to be associated with the religion under which they were raised, but still believe in a Higher Power. So they slap on the label of ‘spiritual’ and eliminate any guilt involved with dissociating with religion. “I don’t need church to be spiritual!” they say. As if we’ve never heard that.

When I say “I am Spirit” verses “I am spiritual”, it is not a means to dissociate with spirituality or religion. What I mean is that everything that religion and spirituality has taught us to search for, to find true meaning and happiness in this life, is WITHIN us, and is not found in the icons and symbols that are spiritual. Spiritual is something outside of us to which we can point and say – those are spiritual books/clothes/mantras/prayers/teachings/belief structures. But surrounding yourself with those ‘things’ so you can define yourself as a spiritual person may be missing the point entirely – you already have Spirit inside of you.

Before you call me a heretic, know that I’m not dismissing organized religion or spirituality by any means. What I’m saying is that we may want to define ourselves not by those two words, religious or spiritual,  because they are external. We could rephrase it from “I am religious” and “I am spiritual,” to “I am Spirit, and utilize religion and spirituality to become more fully aware of that Spirit within me.” Religion and spirituality can be reimagined as tools we use to further discover how to tap into our Spirit.

I do see great benefit in both organized religion, and in spiritual practices that may not fit neatly into a ‘religious’ category. In my own life I’ve been exposed to both.

I grew up going to Catholic Church every Sunday and was baptized and confirmed, participating in my church through service and music. I stopped going as an adult, and don’t consider myself associated with any organized religion.

Spiritually, I find comfort in my yoga practice, I read Pema Chodron, have received Astrological readings, I wear my mala, and I meditate.

There is no escaping the impact religion had on me, which I see as only beneficial – even though I could gripe (like many Millennials do) about having to go to mass every week, the corruption of the Catholic Church as an institution, and the guilt deeply buried inside of me for being Catholic – my take away from church was pretty simple, and is nothing different from what I believe today.

Love your neighbor, and take care of those less fortunate than you.

Saying, “I am Spirit” is not discarding my religious and spiritual connections. They are not mutually exclusive, and in fact, this notion of Spirit inside of us is quite prevalent in the teachings of organized religion.

Religion has played a key role in my past, and spirituality plays a key role in my life today, but I am not those things. Take away all the Sunday School classes, yoga practice, and spiritual texts I’ve read, I still have the same amount of Spirit inside me as the Dali Lama, Gandhi, or the Pope.

Take away all religion and spirituality and you’re still going to be Spirit.