How Growth Spirituality Begins in the Smallest Moments

There’s a question I hear often, though sometimes it’s spoken out loud, and sometimes it's just felt in the quiet: “How do I grow spiritually? And how do I know it’s working?”

That’s the heart of how to grow spiritually… and it starts with a pause, maybe a gentle whisper to yourself that says: there has to be more than this.

And there is. Let’s begin here.

Contrary to what social media might show us, spiritual growth isn’t all candle-lit meditations and sunrise yoga. Far from being perfect, peaceful, or having all the answers, personal spiritual growth often begins where things feel unclear.

It begins when you start paying attention.

Maybe it’s the moment you notice that familiar tension in your chest before it becomes rage. Or when you start asking deeper questions about the patterns you keep repeating. Or maybe it’s when you realize you’ve spent years people-pleasing, and now something inside you wants to come home.

You might not always see it, but you can feel like something is quietly stretching inside you.

Spiritual growth isn’t linear. It’s cyclical. Messy. And holy. But still, there are patterns to it. These patterns are seasons that many of us go through. Here’s how I’ve come to understand the stages of spiritual growth, based on lived experience rather than theory.

1. The Cracking Open

It usually starts with discomfort. A breakup, burnout, a health scare, a death, or just a deep ache. It’s disorienting, and yet… It’s a beginning.

2. The Awakening

Suddenly, things you once ignored start calling to you. You begin noticing synchronicities. You cry more. You feel everything.

3. The Resistance

This one’s tricky. You know you’re changing, but the old version of you is still clinging on. You might question yourself, backslide, or judge your progress. This is where grace matters most.

4. The Integration

Your outside life slowly starts to match your inner one. You make new choices, say “no” more often, and rest without guilt. You begin living in alignment with your values honestly.

5. The Embodiment

You love deeper. You listen more. You become a safe place for yourself and for others.

None of these is final. You’ll revisit them many times. And that’s okay. That’s growth.

Now, I know not everyone loves the word “meditation.” It can feel intimidating, or even inaccessible. But let me offer a softer version… How about remembering to breathe when the world spins too fast?

Guided meditation for spiritual growth can be especially helpful when your thoughts feel too loud or your emotions too heavy.

Even five minutes a day can help. Apps like Insight Timer or Calm offer beautiful entry points. Or simply put on gentle music, close your eyes, and ask: What do I need to hear right now?

Here’s something no one told me early on: spiritual growth often looks like learning to come back to yourself again and again, with kindness.

So if you're wondering what the “steps” are, maybe it's this:

●      Recognize your patterns

●      Slow down

●      Speak honestly

●      Trust your gut

●      Choose love

Every time you do one of those things, even imperfectly, you’re growing.

Let me offer a few signs that spiritual growth is quietly blooming in your life:

●  You pause before reacting

●  You start setting boundaries you used to avoid

●  You cry and don’t feel the need to explain it

●  You question narratives that once controlled you

●  You treat yourself like someone worth listening to

Sometimes the biggest miracle is that you’re still here and still trying. That counts.

I love sacred gatherings, retreats, and rituals. But I also believe that healing happens in kitchens, in traffic, even in messy apartments.

You can grow spiritually while folding laundry. You can awaken while walking the dog. You can find your peace in the middle of the grocery store aisle.

That’s the beauty of how growth spirituality works... It begins with presence.

If you’ve been asking big questions or if your emotions feel louder than usual lately, this is your confirmation: You’re not falling apart. You’re unfolding.

The path of spiritual growth is about coming home to what’s been there all along.

Take your time and let the small moments teach you.

Always remember that with every breath, every honest yes, every sacred no… You are becoming.