As I moved from being an atheist to believing in a power greater than myself, with my outlook on the world and people transformed, I started reading many books of the type I’d normally not be caught reading in the past and studying subjects also off my previous radar.

I studied and practiced the 12 Steps; learned about New Thought (really Ancient Wisdom); got a perspective of Jesus as an elder brother (A Course in Miracles); was surprised by Emmanuel (with Pat Rodergast); and relaxed through the Tao te Ching. I read authors as diverse as Paramahansa Yogananda; Norman Vincent Peale; Kahlil Gibran; Hafiz; Alan Cohen; Wayne Dyer; H. Emilie Cady; Brian Weiss; and, on and on and on.

And, I came to a conclusion which was quite refreshing: There is no competition in spirituality.

In the field of ideas around economics, politics, education, cosmology, etc., there are numerous views, and there is often a lot of contention between factions espousing one ideology over another.

But in spirituality—not religion—there is much agreement (and much peace).

As I was trying to believe in Higher Power, I learned I could choose my own conception of God—what a remarkable idea! And, you could have your very own conception of God too! Mine wasn’t going to conflict with yours.

“In essence, spirituality is simply living with the intention to realize God in every circumstance of your being—your thoughts, emotions, words, deeds, relations, aspirations—in short, the totality of your life, right to its very end.” – John White

So simple and competition-free.