Advancing on the spiritual path takes hard work. 

Unfortunately, that’s just the reality of it. 

If we go through life without trying to work on ourselves spiritually, it feels easier. We don’t need to change anything. We don’t have to learn anything new. We can just stick with what we’re comfortable with. 

But if we want to advance, it feels more difficult. It takes constant self assessment and discipline. 

But it’s so worth it! 

Dr. George King said in an address:

“I’m afraid there is an awful lot of laziness in all of us. There’s an awful lot of indolence in all of us, and we have to fight hard to overcome this. And it’s not easy. It’s easy to talk about. It’s not easy to do. However, it’s rewarding.”

If we can exercise discipline in our lives, Dr. King tells us it will pay off:

“The exceptional student is very different, for he tries to demonstrate what he has learned, and make this an essential part of every breath he takes. He becomes a better person. He becomes a more versed person. He becomes more adept at everything he does. 

If it’s his day-to-day job, he’s the best at it. If it’s his spiritual job, he tries to be the best at that too. He tries to make a success of everything he does; always — always though — with the motive in mind of putting things in their correct order of priority. 

His spiritual life must, at all times, come before his material life: one is necessary, and can help the other, because you will not progress if you have to starve yourself to death — definitely not.”

We are in control of our minds and our bodies. The more we exercise this control, the stronger it will become. And we will feel so good about ourselves, knowing that we are advancing.

Something you can try

Affirmation is a powerful tool that we can use to help us control our subconscious and conscious minds, while also helping to move us forward. 

Try saying the following affirmation for 10 minutes a day with a real belief that it is true. I’ve done this exercise myself and been surprised by how much it affected me, so I can highly recommend it.

“Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.”

Have you had any spiritual successes because you worked hard? I’d love to hear about them.