Many people who are drawn to spiritual growth wonder whether there’s a way to speed it up. If awakening is a lifelong journey, is there a secret that helps you learn and grow a little faster?

There isn’t a shortcut, and that’s good news. You don’t have to hurry or prove anything. But there is one idea that many traditions share, and it can make the path feel lighter: making peace with opposites.

Awakening is a journey

Spiritual awakening is often described as ongoing. The more you notice, the more there is to understand. Each season of life brings new lessons, and growth tends to come in waves rather than a straight line.

That means there’s no finish line to race towards. Each honest moment of awareness already counts.

Making peace with opposites

Life is full of opposites: light and dark, joy and sorrow, rest and effort, certainty and doubt. Many spiritual traditions suggest that we suffer more when we fight one side and cling to the other.

When you allow both to be part of life, something softens. You might notice:

  • Less resistance. Difficult feelings pass more easily when you’re not battling them.
  • More understanding. Seeing that people and situations are rarely all good or all bad can make you more compassionate.
  • Greater curiosity. Instead of asking “How do I get rid of this?”, you can ask “What is this showing me?”

What this doesn’t mean

Making peace with opposites doesn’t mean accepting harm or excusing cruelty. If someone treats you badly, protecting yourself is wise. And painful feelings aren’t a sign that you’ve failed to accept something. Sometimes life simply hurts, and that’s okay.

It also doesn’t mean you should push down anger, fear or sadness. These feelings are part of being human, and they often carry important messages.

Gentle ways to practise

  1. Notice when you’re resisting. Ask, What am I pushing away right now?
  2. Name both sides. I feel tired and hopeful. I love this person and I’m frustrated with them.
  3. Breathe with what’s here. Let the feeling be present for a few breaths without trying to fix it.
  4. Look for the other view. When you disagree with someone, try to understand how they see things.

How little is enough

This week, when you notice yourself resisting something, pause and take three slow breaths. Simply let it be there for a moment. That small pause is part of the journey.

For more, read are you going through a spiritual awakening?

If you’d like a gentle companion for finding your way through change, there’s a guided journal for it on the Guides page.