I first heard the term “spiritual suicide” used by motivational speaker, Les Brown. What is spiritual suicide and how do you know if you’re committing it? It is the killing of that part of oneself that is associated with the feelings and the mind as well as the killing of real meaning or significance in one’s life. So, as Mr. Brown so eloquently put it, if you are not doing work that is meaningful to you or being the person you were truly meant to be, then you are committing spiritual suicide.
What are some of the signs to look for? Ask yourself some of the following questions: Do you hate getting out of bed every day? At your job, do you look at the clock every five minutes, wishing the work day would hurry up and be over so you can go home? Do you live for the weekend and your two (or more) weeks of vacation? Do you engage in any of the following self-destructive behaviors in order to escape or numb yourself?
Excessive TV watching
Overeating (how well I know this one!)
Drug and/or alcohol abuse
Sexual addiction
Excessive spending
Contemplating Suicide
Why are you committing spiritual suicide? Only you can answer that. I was committing it because for years I wanted to be a writer. But I only wanted to write fiction, which is my passion. But it’s hard to make a living just writing fiction (unless you make it big). I guess that’s why my parents weren’t supportive of the idea. So, for more than 30 years, I used food to numb my disappointed feelings for not doing the work I felt I was meant to do.
If you are committing spiritual suicide, what can you do to stop? First, admit that you are not happy. Second, start planning a strategy to help you become the person you were meant to be. This could include using some form of healing or therapy, meditation, etc. And then, it is my hope that you are finally able to do the work that is truly meaningful to you.