S1E1: Spiritual Bypassing

Axé All Day

Spiritual Bypassing: What It Is and How to Avoid It

In this episode, we'll explore the concept of spiritual bypassing. What is it? How does it work? And how can we avoid it?

Spiritual bypassing is a common way of coping with difficult emotions and experiences. It involves using spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid dealing with our pain and suffering.

For example, someone who is struggling with anxiety might say, "I'm just going to focus on my breath and let go of all my worries." Or someone who is grieving a loss might say, "I know that my loved one is in a better place now, so I should be happy for them."

While there is nothing wrong with spiritual beliefs or practices, they can be used in a way that is harmful. When we use them to avoid dealing with our pain, we are not allowing ourselves to heal.
Two powerful tools that can help us to avoid spiritual bypassing are radical acceptance and surrender.

Radical acceptance and surrender are the practice of accepting our experiences, both positive and negative, without judgment. It means accepting that things are the way they are and that we cannot change them.
How to Avoid Spiritual Bypassing

Here are a few tips for avoiding spiritual bypassing:

• Acknowledge your pain and suffering. Don't try to deny or avoid it.
• Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Don't try to suppress them.
• Talk about your pain and suffering with someone you trust. This can help you to process it.
• Seek professional help if you need it. A therapist can help you to work through your pain and suffering.
• Practice radical acceptance and surrender. These two tools can help you to heal.

Conclusion

Spiritual bypassing is a common way of coping with difficult emotions and experiences. It can be harmful because it prevents us from healing. However, there are tools that can help us to avoid spiritual bypassing, such as radical acceptance and surrender. By practicing these tools, we can open ourselves up to healing and growth.

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