What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction offers guidance from a person uniquely qualified through education, experience, and personal sanctity to help you discern God’s will in your life. The process involves aligning your personal journey with God’s will, relying on the constant support of the Holy Spirit, who serves as the ultimate guide for the soul.

 

True spiritual direction begins with your heartfelt desire to strengthen your union with God and grow in holiness. The Church acknowledges the importance of spiritual direction. A skilled spiritual director can provide clarity by helping you detach from distractions and attachments that cloud your soul, allowing you to see the truth—even when it challenges you.

 

The Keys to Success

Christian formation largely depends on your own commitment and effort. It’s not enough to simply have a spiritual director or schedule a conversation with them. What truly matters is preparing yourself beforehand—reflecting on your intentions, understanding your mindset, and knowing how to approach the discussion meaningfully.

 

Here are four essential keys to making your spiritual direction truly impactful:

The Examination of Conscience

The first step in preparing for spiritual direction is reflecting on what you intend to discuss.

 

Examining your conscience involves identifying the topics you wish to address, and this requires thoughtful preparation. It’s highly recommended to spend some quiet time before the tabernacle as part of this process. This allows you to engage in personal spiritual direction by first conversing with Our Lord.

 

For clarity and focus, consider jotting down your thoughts or key points you’d like to share during your session. Once you’ve completed your conversation, you can simply discard the notes.

Sincerity

Sincerity means embracing the whole truth—not just fragments of it or your personal version of it.

 

This is why it's so important to first seek spiritual guidance with the Lord. Doing so allows you to view your life through His perspective and motivates you to grow in the areas He identifies as needing improvement.

 

True spiritual growth isn't just about reflecting on your experiences but about aligning your life and struggles with the example of Jesus. It involves uprooting everything that distances you from God—and that process starts with genuine sincerity. There's no need to feel ashamed if you find yourself revisiting the same challenges week after week in spiritual direction. A good spiritual director will never tire of walking alongside you on your journey of self-improvement.

 

Sincerity is the cornerstone of overcoming your difficulties and the first step toward lasting transformation.

Docility

Docility requires a firm commitment to genuinely work on the areas your spiritual director identifies, with the goal of growing in your Christian life. Often, pride and laziness become obstacles to fully embracing the guidance you receive. A proud heart resists docility because accepting help frequently involves considering ideas different from your own.

 

True growth demands the humility to admit you may be wrong and the willingness to let someone else guide you on the path to spiritual progress.

 

Laziness is another significant challenge. It takes daily effort to implement the advice you are given, especially when it doesn't align with your personal preferences. To combat this, consider jotting down the recommendations your spiritual director provides. These notes can serve as a valuable resource, allowing you to revisit their advice during moments of prayer and reflection.

 

By consistently returning to these insights, you can draw fresh inspiration and remain steadfast in your commitment to spiritual growth.

Constancy

Setting a fixed date and time with your spiritual director is invaluable, as it helps you stay consistent and prevents other obligations from causing delays or pushing the conversation to an indefinite "later."

 

Reflect on what frequency best nurtures your soul given your current circumstances, and commit wholeheartedly to this schedule, making it a priority to never miss these meaningful appointments.

Reference: Antonio P. Villahoz, 2011, Scepter Publishers