When it comes to spiritual growth, most of us know it requires focus, dedication, devotion, and sustained effort. However, what do you do when you have a busy life. Between work and taking care of the children and your husband, what if you barely have ten minutes to yourself anymore. Although spiritual growth might be really important to you, what if you are having a hard time fitting it into your schedule. Here are some suggestions.

It is natural and not uncommon to view worldly endeavors and spiritual endeavors as separate functions. From this perspective, one is always competing with the other for your time and attention. On the one hand, you have responsibilities to manage and perhaps an endless to-do list to complete. On the other hand, your soul is encouraging you to be more introspective, slow down a little bit, and spend some time going within to become aware of false beliefs and old patterns of behavior that no longer serve your highest good.

Rather than compartmentalizing spiritual work and worldly work into separate camps, I would encourage you to see them as one and the same. You don't have to withdraw from the world and meditate for an hour each day in order to advance your consciousness. Everything you do and every person you encounter during the day offers you an opportunity for spiritual growth. When you find yourself feeling impatient with your children or yourself, this is an opportunity to go within and explore the root of the dis-ease.

Are you harboring the belief that you should be accomplishing more during the day? Are you torn apart by guilt because your work life takes you away from your children? Do you constantly tell yourself there isn't enough time to get everything done that needs to be done, and if you were more organized you would be a better mother? All of these negative beliefs are opportunities for contemplation and spiritual growth.

Contemplation is a very effective means of multitasking - so to speak. It allows you the ability to handle personal responsibilities while simultaneously doing some much needed soul work.

Every negative feeling, from slight irritation to intense rage, is an opportunity for spiritual growth whereby you can infuse more compassion, understanding and love into your life. Every moment of your life offers an opportunity for growth. Whether you are waiting for a bus, sitting in traffic or changing a diaper, a deeper level of awareness can be accessed. All you have to do is exchange "this OR that" thinking with "this AND that" thinking.