The Only Relevant Spiritual Question:

Why are you not dancing for joy?

There is a well-known spiritual quote that states, “The only relevant spiritual question is why in this moment are you not dancing for joy?” It’s a striking and beautiful sentiment, one that I have wrestled with throughout my own journey of enlightenment, awakening, and commitment to evolutionary growth. It resonates deeply with my work in transformative leadership and the emergence of meditative inquiry, yet it also calls me to examine its deeper implications in our world today.

My Personal Awakening to Joy and Its Challenges

For many years, I saw joy as an individual practice—an inner realization that aligned with New Thought’s core principle that our consciousness shapes our experience. In moments of clarity and deep connection, I have felt the truth of this idea viscerally, as if the whole universe were whispering, Yes, joy is your birthright. But as I deepened my understanding of transformative leadership, I began to see the limitations of this perspective.

What about the moments when joy feels unreachable? What about the suffering I have witnessed in others—friends, colleagues, communities facing oppression and hardship? Was my experience of joy separate from theirs? Could I truly embody transformative leadership if my spiritual inquiry did not extend beyond my own personal fulfillment?

The Shadow Side: When Joy Feels Out of Reach

As I grappled with these questions, I came to recognize the potential shadow of this perspective. While joy is always available in some form, what about the person who has lost a loved one? The individual struggling under the weight of systemic injustice? The one experiencing depression, trauma, or oppression? In these moments, is joy truly the only relevant spiritual question?

One of the challenges of this perspective is that it can lead to spiritual bypassing—the tendency to dismiss pain, grief, and struggle in favor of an overly optimistic view of reality. My commitment to meditative inquiry has taught me that true transformation does not come from ignoring suffering but from witnessing and engaging with it deeply. New Thought, at its best, is not about denying suffering but transforming it. It acknowledges that while our consciousness shapes our experience, we exist in a world of collective conditions, historical traumas, and evolving systems that require both inner and outer work.

New Thought as Liberation Theology: A Shift in Perspective

As my journey continued, I began to see New Thought not just as a philosophy of personal empowerment but as a form of liberation theology. This shift has been deeply influenced by the work of leaders like Rev. Dr. David Alexander, whose book Freedom from Discord illuminates the connection between spiritual practice and collective liberation. I encourage you to explore more of his insights through his Substack, The Liberation Lens, where he continues to offer profound wisdom for these times.

After more than 20 years of deep study, practice, and service in the New Thought movement, I have come to see collective transformation as the inevitable and necessary evolution of my spiritual journey. It is no longer enough to seek personal enlightenment alone; true liberation arises when we recognize that our individual awakening is inseparable from the awakening of the whole.

Perhaps the question is not simply, “Why aren’t you dancing for joy?” but “What conditions—internal or external—are keeping you from joy, and how do we collectively transform them?”

Liberation theology calls for an engaged spirituality—one that acknowledges the necessity of justice, the reality of oppression, and the power of consciousness not just to transcend the world but to change it. Through meditative inquiry, I have found that true joy is not an isolated experience; it is an interconnected, communal unfolding. It is about creating spaces where all beings can access the conditions that allow joy to flourish.

Moving Forward: Joy as Resistance and Renewal

As we navigate a world of increasing authoritarianism, polarization, and uncertainty, the way we approach spirituality matters more than ever. My journey has led me to understand that New Thought must evolve—not abandoning its core principles but expanding them to meet the realities of our time. Joy is essential, but so is justice. Spiritual awakening is vital, but so is structural change.

Now, I no longer ask only how I can access joy, but how I can contribute to a world where joy is possible for all. I see meditative inquiry as a path not just for individual enlightenment, but for collective liberation.

In this light, I offer an evolved spiritual question: “What within me, and what within our world, longs to be freed so that joy can arise?” This question honors both the mystical and the practical, both the inner and the outer dimensions of transformation.

And alongside it, I ask: “Where is suffering calling for justice, and how can we respond with love and action?” This question invites us to engage with the pressing social justice needs of our time, ensuring that our spirituality is not only a source of personal solace but also a catalyst for meaningful change.

Perhaps the true spiritual path is not to ignore suffering but to witness it fully, to transform it with love, and to reclaim joy as a collective liberation.

A Call to Engage

We’re all in this together, and every voice matters. Whatever ways you feel called to take action—whether that’s showing up for your community, advocating for justice, or simply amplifying voices that inspire you—lean into it. Stay rooted in nonviolence, keep New Thought principles at the heart of your engagement, and don’t be afraid to speak up. Comment, share, create—write your own Substack, support the work of those who challenge and uplift you, and stay connected.

Transformation isn’t just an internal process; it happens in the way we show up for each other. And maybe, in that showing up, we begin to dance—not to ignore suffering, but to claim joy as an act of defiance, resilience, and love.