How the people around us help or hinder our spiritual journey and our responses.

[Moddesser Elahi]

Other people’s behavior can absolutely be an influence in our lives. That being said, we are ultimately responsible for our reactions and decisions.

I also believe exactly the same thing. We might get influenced by things around us at a certain point in time in life but we obviously need to learn from the experiences and think for ourselves.

[Moddesser Elahi]

The discussion with his parents was a healthy experience that taught him to discern. Children need to mature by reflecting on their life experiences.

Exactly! If we do not learn from our life experiences then how else we can learn.

[Moddesser Elahi]

Well, the truth is you can never know. People are different. We all act, think and respond to the environment differently and our perspectives on certain things also differ. Spiritually, a lie can either hinder or help a person progress or deprogress based on how strong they know themselves. In actual sense, self identity is a key note in this matter. Whereas basically, a not so well developed individual in this situation will most definitely suffer spiritual hindrance due to a lie if his ability to judge is very low. Like Richard, he had a very independent mind, and his curious nature got him exploring. But as we all know, our physical environment plays a major role in our growing up whether physically, mentally and or spiritually!

I agree with you to some extent but I would also like to say that our experiences teach us a lot and if we do not learn from them we would not grow in life.

[Moddesser Elahi]

Having a good role model is of great importance, it can make or break a persons believes. He was threatened into believing God from a tender age which was the beginning of his curiosity. The same thing applies in the development of a child, the environment and people around the child do play a significant role.

I also think that a role model is a crucial thing in one's life which can help one to lead a successful life.

[Moddesser Elahi]

I think secrets and lies usually hinder someone's spiritual growth since you will always feel guilty on what you're hiding.

I also believe that we can't hide anything from ourselves and few instances can make us feel guilty in our later stages of life if we do not handle them properly.

[Moddesser Elahi]

I thin there's a fair point in saying that negative and toxic people can hinder your journey, as supportive and loving people can enhance it. I think you can continue with your own spiritual exploration even if people don't believe, as long as they are good to you.

I also think that if we are wise and strong enough in holding our beliefs then the external factors would not be able to affect us so much.

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

I cannot speak to the character, but I strongly believe that who one spends time with does affect their spiritual journey. I know it's cliché, but birds of a feather really do stick together. I'm a strong Christian, but I do find that if I spend too much time with the wrong crowd, I find myself acting in ways that I wouldn't if I was with a more spiritual crowd.

I couldn't agree more. Truth!

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

I think this is a great question and the comments have been most insightful. I try to decide what my priorities in life are well ahead of time and as I progress, I draw boundaries. That way it is easier to shut the door to relationships that are hindering me on my journey.

The character in the book allowed too many external influences to affect his perception of himself and slow down his journey. That is a lesson for me. It is not easy to do but one must remain objective and determined not to be side-tracked in our journey in life.

[OskaWrites]

I thin there's a fair point in saying that negative and toxic people can hinder your journey, as supportive and loving people can enhance it. I think you can continue with your own spiritual exploration even if people don't believe, as long as they are good to you.

I also think that if we are wise and strong enough in holding our beliefs then the external factors would not be able to affect us so much.

I agree! If you are strong an firm in your beliefs, and truly wish to develop yourself spiritually, then you will be able to continue on your journey without much issue. I can understand for some starting off it may be very hard if close loved ones are patronising, but then perhaps part of the journey is removing people who cause harm.

[desantismt_17]

I think it can, but I also think there needs to be a breaking point where you forgive yourself for letting it happen. Ultimately, if we let someone lie to us, we make the choice to allow it, which means the only person who can forgive us and, thus, move forward in the spiritual journey, is us.

[srividyag1]

I think lying to oneself is a step away from spiritual growth. It's natural to question the purpose of it all, when one thinks rationally. When someone lies to a kid, it might affect it in some ways. Everyone lies to kids about Santa and fairy tales. But spirituality is beyond it. It's my opinion that as kids we don't seek spiritual growth because we don't know its significance. We start to think about spiritual growth only in our adulthood and then, we must be mature enough to realise the lies and differentiated lies from the truth in our mind.

[Brandy C]

Yes, I think people around us influence our beliefs and actions. A great example would be my first marriage. I was married to a very hypocritical, negative, nasty person. He found fault with everything and everyone around him. Nothing ever pleased him or was done well enough. I found over the years, I had become very negative. I would catch myself feeling or thinking one way for no reason. I would then examine why I felt that way. Once I got out of the relationship, I could see the negative effects he had on me. As far as lies, lies do affect us all but how we respond to them is left up to us. In the end, it is our personal journey.

[Dragonsend]

Personally speaking, if someone lies to me, it tends to automatically put a barrier between myself and that person. Unfortunately, for most people this tends to put up barriers in other relationships as well, but we have to remember that every relationship is different . It is ironic that so many people lie, some without even realizing that they are doing so. I read on one of the Bible study sites, sorry I can not remember which one, telling lies is one of the most prominent sins that people commit. Ah, if every one were absolutely unable to tell a lie????!! However, people do and I believe that for most people this is a place for growth. If the blinders are removed from your own eyes there are less things in our way to see the complete truth.

[NL Hartje]

Great question! I don’t necessarily believe allowing another to lie hinders ones own journey. If anything it can open your eyes to the truths of negativity in the world.

[danielleamy]

I think throughout your life you will meet others that will influence you. These could be family, friends, teachers, relationships etc. But it is up to the individual to decide whether they take on the positive or negative changes. These opportunities are chances to learn and grow as a person, whether that be spiritually or mentally