Spectrum of Spirit: A Digital Sanctuary for Spiritual Discourse and Community

The "Spectrum of Spirit" blog features insightful articles, essays, and reflections penned by the founder, Paul, and diverse guest contributors. Focusing on contemporary spirituality, the blog offers regular updates with weekly themes and seasonal reflections, fostering ongoing engagement and a deeper understanding of spiritual practices and trends.

What If Happiness Wasn’t Something You Had to Chase?

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By

Paul Hudson

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6–9 minutes

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The act of chasing is used all over my NIV translation of the Hebrew Bible. In the book of Leviticus, god promises rewards for obedience, including being able to chase their enemies, by thousands at a time, till they fall to the Israelites sword. In the book of Job, Job questions god on why it hides its face from Job, and wonders why it feels like god is tormenting him and chasing him even though he has nothing left. In the book of Proverbs, the writer stated the one who works the land will have plenty of food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. These are just a few examples, but I believe they set the confusing use of the word chase. God rewards people with a chase for their obedience to him, but also the same people who chase their fantasies have no sense. I understand these are two different perspectives, but this exercise helps me challenge the concept of chasing.

Continuing with the idea of challenging concepts, happiness is one that has always been challenging for me and is one I would like to challenge in this blog. I’ve heard happiness can exist in one’s life after a hard fought struggle, reaching an achievement, and possibly receiving validation from someone you respect. However, I wonder if happiness doesn’t have to be so circumstantial, if happiness can be rooted in the simple fact of enjoying another day breathing. I believe happiness can be experienced when we take in all the beauty of the world, being present with all of the world we are sensing. I believe one’s spiritual life is inherently very complex, however, understanding the simple aspects of our spirituality can free our minds to experience the happiness already inside of us.

Chasing Exploration

In my previous blogs, I have explored the concept of femininity quite consistently. KRS-One, a hip-hop artist, states in one of his songs that in our current spiritual age, we will “see a rise in femininity and creativity, meshed with masculinity… this is your true her-story”1. I believe KRS-One was on to something almost 20 years ago and continues to get his message out to the world. I believe plenty of ancient spiritual paths held significant weight in the power of the feminine, however, over time, the patriarchy suppressed the importance of the feminine path. Specifically, the symbolism of the rose, a beautiful flower with gentle petals and accompanied by powerful thorns.

On the Highest Self Podcast, Sahara Rose sits down with Rachel Rossittos to discuss the Rose Path, a spiritual path of love and beauty2. Towards the beginning of the podcast, Sahara asks Rachel how the Rose frequencies started to show up in her life3. Rachel reveals the frequencies became apparent during her dark night of the soul, hitting rock bottom at the age of 19. Her boyfriend gave her the Mary Magdalene manuscripts and as she read this book a light came back on for her4. Rachel describes the feeling as a resounding curiosity and remembrance, awakening her curiosity to explore the Rose5. Later on in the podcast, Sahara shares her own story of becoming the person she is, doing all the things, healing from her past lives, healing from her trauma, and not wanting to ruin her momentum6. Sahara states the moment you step into love, one version of an individual dies, and she feels the Rose questioned her desire for true love7. Sahara felt like aspects of her life wouldn’t go, her apartment, her friends, and the question came to her, how much is she willing to die8. Sahara felt a complete loss of self, but reflecting on her life, she realizes she was to use this love to become a higher, new version of herself9. Sahara relates this experience to how when you end a relationship, you also become a new version of yourself, deities you embody throughout your life10. Sahara shares that after her divorce she went deep into Kalima11. Sahara reflects, she was the good girl, married, she was the same person since 24, got cheated on, and wanted to burn what she built to the ground12. Now Sahara is a rapper, and it was needed because now she can explore darkness, explore the shadow realm, and explore not caring as much13.

Sahara and Rachel come together and share their relationship with the Rose, sparking curiosity into another version of themselves. The two share similarities in their story, receiving a new way of thinking through gifts and hardship. Their emotions were tested and they came out of their initial experience with the Rose a new person with a newly acquired intelligence. The beauty Rachel observed in the Mary Magdalene manuscripts changed her way of thinking and the introduction of the Rose led Sahara down her own sacred journey through her rap career. For Rachel and Sahara, the Rose path was one that led to exploring a season for growth, and I believe one could try this path, without chasing it, to transform their lives spiritually.

Chasing Discussion

I find myself always going overboard. Overworking myself to keep my mind busy, afraid of the thoughts that might come. Overthinking about all the ways something can go the way I want it to, and thinking even more about all the ways I can prepare for things to go wrong. Over consuming food and media, trying to eliminate my fear of not having enough and again avoiding the negative thought patterns my brain finds itself in. I don’t believe this is everyone’s experience, however, I do believe one’s core emotions can bring them to a perpetual state of overcompensation. I believe the loop of survival mode can severely impact a person’s life, stunting their ability to feel the happiness inside of them.

On The Sadhguru Podcast, Sadhguru shares a short snippet of how simplicity can unlock happiness in one’s life14. Sadhguru jumps right into the story, when a person says they’re just human, they are saying their one miserable person15. Sadhguru continues, when a person says they’re just human, they are not saying they are love, bliss, or joy, but they are useless16. Sadhguru believes, as a society, we need to change the context of what it means to be human, and believes all the wrong things have been identified within humanity17. Sadhguru states we have chosen to make the human experience a miserable one, one who fights for survival through it the course of their life18. Sadhguru raises a hypothetical, if a human has any sense, they need to simplify their survival process, so one can express the deeper aspects of their life19. Sadhguru believes his audience knows the bliss of being alive, and what it means to be alive20. Sadhguru believes we should change the connotation and denotation of the phrase, I’m just human21. Sadhguru concludes, humans are aesthetic and capable of wonderful things22.

Sadhguru tries to add a positive spin to simplify life for his audience. Sadhguru doesn’t focus on the material aspects of society but instead focuses on the mental self-talk we give ourselves and how that can come out in our day to day expressions. I believe statements like, “I’m good” and “I’m just human” can be simple phrases that communicate a lot about a person’s emotional state depending on the way a person says it. Even though I don’t agree with everything Sadhguru said I do agree that in the instance a person expresses they are good or they are just human we should create space for conversation. I believe when this space is created, the participants can share real emotions, maybe even the genuine joys they are experiencing in life. I believe, in this instance, a sense of clarity in one’s spirit can be felt in a simple act of creating space for discussion. I believe this discussion can remove the hassle of chasing after happiness when one may be feeling miserable, and replace it with the receiving joy.

Chasing and Reframing

Reframe your happiness. Elude the chase. Explore a new goal. Discuss what feels innate. Eternalize a state of joy. Uncover your origin. Simplify the echoes. Mystify life. Walk with your soul. Find the twin path. Dance with the rose. Live in your beauty. Read your energy. Enjoy the quest of your relationship with yourself. Survive with light. Embrace your inner joy. Create your sacred renaissance. Grasp your feminine thoughts. Unlock the doorway to your spirit.

Bibliography

  1. KRS-One, “4th Quarter — Free Throws,” I Got Next, podcast audio, 1997 Zomba Recording LLC. May 20, 1997, ↩︎
  2. Highest Self Podcast, “600: The Rose Path- The Feminine Spiritual Path of Love + Beauty with Rachel Rossitto,” podcast audio, April 29, 2025, accessed April 30, 2025, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4XeU1jq1ehNJlQEjqh0NlH. ↩︎
  3. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
  4. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
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  6. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
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  8. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
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  11. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
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  13. Highest Self Podcast, ↩︎
  14. The Sadhguru Podcast, “Simplify Survival to Unlock True Happiness,” podcast audio, April 29, 2025, https://open.spotify.com/episode/0poxPaXHXrHVqooCaLTlvj. ↩︎
  15. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  16. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  17. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  18. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  19. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  20. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  21. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎
  22. The Sadhguru Podcast, ↩︎

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