Detachment as a Spiritual Practice

­­­­­­Detachment as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice
By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Detachment.

 
Detachment is unlimited freedom to a higher calling, unhindered by social pressures and self-limitations. When we detach, we are not affected by the demands and expectations of other people’s opinions and purposes. We develop an internal guidance system based on our relationship with our Creator – God; being in the world and not of it (Acts 17:24). When we are attached to the way things are, how things used to be, or how we want things to be, we use our memory and lack spontaneity.  When we are attached to the past and future of how things should be, we overlook the present opportunities within our reach. The present is accessible with a more beneficial outcome. Detach from the past and take advantage of the now – the present is what is available.

Beware of other people’s point of views. What other people think about you is not about you –people live in their own world and everything is all about them. Detach from other people’s opinions, gossip, blame, and rejection. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood contending only with physical opponents, but against the powers, and rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces (Ephesians 6:12). The image you have of you and the image others have of you differ.  Know who you are in relationship to your Creator, and allow others the freedom to be who they are by not imposing your will on them. Do not be conformed to this world, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you (Romans 12:2). Do what you do for the joy of doing it and detach from the outcome. Detachment does not mean you abandon your goals or intentions. What detachment means is that between your intention and the outcome, you are open to the possibility of better outcomes. Foster an internal integrity that is above manmade laws by doing what you do to the best of your ability.

Self-Assessment

Do outward appearance and opinion of others affect who you are and what you do?

Do you define yourself and others by their material gain or lack thereof?

What is success?

Do you have heart-centered standards?

Do you expect awards and recognition for your services?

Are you free from other peoples’ opinions?

Are you willing and able to do your best in every situation?

Are you interested in self-mastery?

 

Detachment Practices:

Cultivate a higher moral code of the heart. Be morality and intelligence; not just moral and intelligent.

Don’t take anything personal (Don Miguel Ruiz)

Affirmation: I am moral, profitable, and genius extraordinaire, regardless of what any institutional transcript, or bank statement says (Wayne W. Dyer)

See every experience as new; don’t dull your experience with past expectations. Be enthusiastic, curious, and open to life.

 
Develop your inward guidance system based on truth and right-ness. Your actions make a difference if your intent is for the greater good; God. Detachment is freedom from the past and future events, and an awareness and enjoyment of the present moment.

How do you remain free from social pressures of the past and future? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings