Jan's Consulting, Counseling & Chaplaincy Services LLC

spirituality FAQ

- Is my spirituality providing me a strong foundation?

- Does my life have meaning and purpose?

- Do I feel connected with my inner source?

- Do I experience a loving, divine source in my life?

- How can I bring more Light into my life?

- What is this unexplainable emptiness I'm experiencing, like something is missing in my life although I seem to have what I want?

It can be difficult to feel connected with others if we don't have a clear connection with our self, our center.

My perspective is that our spirituality is who we are - our spirit, our center, our energy, our life force, our soul. It's how we connect with and express our loving nature, and can guide us to the vision or purpose we have for our life. I see love as the heart of spirituality.

We can express our spirituality through many ways: nature, hobby or occupation, service, a relationship with others, the universe, a loving consciousness or divine source, etc. The form you choose can be your unique way of expressing that loving part of you.

I can work with many expressions of spirituality as long as they come from a framework of loving.

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The definition that I use for spirituality: a connection with something outside ourself (nature, music, a group, a person, higher power, a Divine Source) that then can connect us with something inside ourself (our love, our divinity). We can experience a oneness with something greater, e.g. with nature - a oneness with the beauty and the source of that beauty.

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My role is to help you to identify and let go of whatever may be blocking your awareness and growth, and then connect more fully with your inner loving and spiritual heart. You can create those experiences and practices that will help you to move forward in greater awareness and expression of your unique spirituality, perhaps also in service to others.

What may block us are negative thoughts and feelings, negative conditioning and judgments.

Also, if relevant, we will be working with challenges that may arise from everyday events and issues, and focus on the present.

An important aspect of doing inner work is to build strong

self-support and nurturing skills.

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For some, spirituality can provide a connection with what they see as a higher purpose, an integration with a oneness and a wholeness, an expansion of consciousness and an openness to loving service.

By taking an altitude view of our life, we can look at why we are here, what our purpose is or what we are here to learn.

Healing is not complete until it is done on the spiritual level.

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Audio Available Below

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For those drawn to expressing their spirituality through a relationship with Spirit/God, I see God as a loving consciousness. Our nature or soul is loving. So loving is what connects us with Spirit/God.

I recommend doing all things with an intention for the highest good of all concerned - recognizing that we may not always be aware of what may be possible for us and others involved.

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In my own journey, I have moved from participating in a conventional religion through the teens, to 30 years of agnostic perspective, to awakening to the presence of a divine loving Source in my life.

Through this time, I have learned that connecting with my spirituality, with God, comes largely from my experience of God in my life, not from specific beliefs or information about God.

I believe each one of us has inner wisdom that knows what is the best direction for each one of us. Negativity can also cloud our awareness of our inner wisdom. See note about inner wisdom below.

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A note about inner wisdom

Inner thoughts can come from many sources: inner wisdom, memories, ego, past resentments, negative conditioning, etc. In evaluating whether or not those inner thoughts or direction are coming from inner wisdom, I use the guideline of "Don't hurt yourself and don't hurt others. Stay positive."

Ego may present some fantastic ideas, but they may not be realistic, feasible or wise to do. It is important to test and check out everything that comes up, without rushing into anything.

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Where is God?

Some people say, "I go to church and pray, but I don't feel God."

However, if we spend a lot of our thinking or feeling focused on worry, criticism and judgments, that is what we'll experience - worry, criticism and judgments. We're not likely to experience God's loving presence or support because we are preoccupied with worry, criticism and judgments.

We need to stop the 'static interference' of worry, criticism and judgments and be silent inside, connect with our loving and have an open channel to listen and receive.

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how to not recognize spiritual help

I have a fun story about how to not recognize spiritual help after asking for it. Whenever I remember it, I smile and chuckle. True story.

Something I heard a few years before stayed with me: God's love and support are abundant and always available. Just need to ask and be open to receive. (I recommend asking “for the highest good of all concerned.”)

In November 2004, my TV-video player needed repair. I was living in an apartment building. The closest way to get the TV to my car was to take it down to the basement, park the car outside the door and get the TV up the 10 or so steps to the outside. How was I going to get it up those ten steps and outside to my car? I could pick up the TV but to carry it a distance felt too risky.

Is it OK to ask God for help with something like this? Is this a frivolous request? I was pretty new at this spiritual stuff then and didn't know. So I decided to ask. A little while later, I put the TV on my desk chair with wheels, and wheeled the TV to the elevator down to the basement and to the base of the stairs going outside.

At that point, a woman came in, down the stairs. She asked if I needed help. I took a quick look – she was about my height (5’1”) and younger, maybe 20 years old. (Two quick thoughts came: What if it's too heavy for her and she drops it. If she's trying to help me, how could I ask her to replace it? And: I guess the answer to my request was 'No.' )

So, I said "Maybe if we each took an end and carried it together up the stairs?" Either she didn't understand what I meant, or didn't want to do it, because she did not respond. I picked up the TV and she opened the door to the outside. I got the TV up the stairs and into the car, and decided I would never do that again. Came much too close to dropping it.

I went back inside and the woman and I talked for a bit. Then I noticed her tee-shirt - Lifeguard - so & so Beach. And her upper arms and shoulders were quite strong-looking. She probably could have twirled the TV on her little finger.

So – I asked spiritually for help, I got it and I missed it. I missed out on help because I was expecting help would come as a tall male. The help that came was different from how I thought it would come. Preconceptions got in the way of seeing the help that was in front of me. Lesson learned! Chuckle.

general information about counseling services

Jan Collins, M.Ed.

Hours by appointment

By zoom or in-person in Havertown, PA office

484-416-3828

A free introductory 30-minute phone informational consultation for counseling

General Information About Services
I look forward to being of assistance in whatever way may be helpful to you.

Fee

$100 for 60 minutes

Gift certificates are available. A sliding fee scale is available upon request

Counseling can be a supportive supplement for those who have completed working with more in-depth issues such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, crisis, trauma, addictions, etc.

If a significant issue surfaces during counseling, referral for psychotherapy may be recommended.