Let’s redefine mental illness as a different state of consciousness that can move us toward a spiritual life. Depression, suicidal ideation, paranoia, and schizophrenia contain a set of experiences that can teach us and reveal aspects of life and of ourselves that we wouldn’t otherwise see.

Ricky is a Life, Spirituality and Wellness Coach. He writes about spirituality, philosophy, mindfulness, meditation, and psychology in his blog Mind That Ego.

Quotes to remember:

“If we can embrace suffering and not crave happiness and not be overly resistant toward difficult feelings, that’s going to lead us down a fulfilling path.”

“Spirituality is not a hobby. It’s a way of being.”

“You are not a product of what goals you achieve.”

“Ultimately, our truest essence is beyond what we can identify with.”

“You are not the center of the universe, but you are the universe.”

“Depression is a great teacher.”

Takeaways:

It’s common to link being scientific with being atheist/cynical toward spirituality
The journey of spirituality is bitter at first, then like sweet nectar
With suffering, the only way out is through
Unresolved grief and sadness contribute greatly to our suffering
Our spirituality evolves in spirals, and each stage incorporates all previous stages
Self-transcendence is what lies beyond the ego and beyond Western individualism
You can be spiritual and have goals
The ego will constantly try to intrude and impose, even when you are engaging in a passion project
The ego both downplays and aggrandizes the truth
What we identify with can hold us back and keep us stuck, even if it’s supposedly a good identity
When our Shadow side (our undesirable side) is not faced, it will come out as projection onto others
We are afraid of not only our Shadow but also our power, potential, and creativity
Mental illness can be the beginning of spiritual awakening; nonstandard states of consciousness are not necessarily insanity
Our potential is far beyond our senses
Curiosity is the antidote to fear

What you’ll learn:

Ricky’s introduction to spirituality through suffering
How he talked himself through the suffering of mental illness to a place of wholeness
Our understanding of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs isn’t the full picture of what Maslow intended
About Ricky’s relationship with goal-setting
How our concept of our identity shifts as we grow
What envy can teach us about ourselves

Mentioned on the podcast:

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