Question

Does our spiritual longing deepen after 40?

Answer
By Aimee Hughes | Published: August 21, 2017 | Last updated: August 21, 2017

This is an interesting question and I think the answer is that yes, as we grow older, we naturally move deeper into the stages of our lives when spirituality becomes more and more essential and necessary.

By age 40 and beyond, most of us have had our fair share of suffering. We’ve experienced life, death, grief, heartache, loss – all the pains of a typical human life. We might begin turning to a more personalized spirituality, if organized religion hasn’t resonated with us. With wisdom comes a deeper spiritual longing, and most of us do become more “sage with age.”

Everyone is different, and if you’re 40 and just beginning a family, which is always possible nowadays, your focus might be less on spirituality and more on the day-to-day tasks that are necessary when raising small children and being a householder. At the same time, you may turn to spirituality to help you find grace as a mother or father, wife or husband, as these roles can be incredibly challenging while incredibly satisfying.

With the traditions of yoga and Buddhism so prevalent in our culture now, more and more of us have been exposed to spiritual practices that we might not have been privy to in our younger years. Spirituality becomes something we get to focus upon in a culture that previously relied upon the more traditional organized religions of the West.

Certainly, as we approach our older years, we long for truth, wisdom and love because we have more experiences under our belt and we know what truly matters. We seek more light in our lives and long for support from our spiritual practices and faith – especially as we watch our loved ones or even ourselves suffer from cancer, mental illness, addictions, stress, depression, and the list goes on and on. May your spirituality ripen and deepen as you age, gaining wisdom, inner knowing and unconditional love along the way. (Continue reading about being on a spiritual path in The Seeker.)

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Written by Aimee Hughes

Aimee Hughes

Aimee is a yogi and writer who's been practicing yoga daily for more than 21 years. Since a journey to India when she was 20, the practice has been her constant companion. She loves exploring the vast and seemingly endless worlds of yoga. Aimee has also written a book titled, "The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures in Love & Sex." You can find her at her new site: https://natura.yoga

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