Discover How a Spiritual Perspective Can Turn Life's Challenges into Gifts

As I’ve hit my 50s, I’ve noticed a change in the way I view the world. Life isn’t just about the material things or the hustle and bustle anymore. Instead, I’ve started becoming more spiritual. It's not that I wasn’t open to spiritual ideas before, but now I actively seek spiritual reasons behind many of the experiences we face— many of the experiences that I personally face. I’ve realized that some things, when looked at from a purely earthly or medical perspective, come across as negative or challenging, but when we shift our lens and apply a spiritual explanation, they often turn out to be positive.

It’s like looking at the same picture but from a different angle. On one side, you see the shadows and the rough edges, but when you step back or adjust your view, you start to notice the light and the beauty hidden within those same shapes. It’s all about perspective. And as I move forward in this stage of life, I’m finding that the spiritual perspective often brings a sense of peace and understanding that I never experienced before.

The Medical vs. Spiritual Perspective

In our society, we tend to lean heavily on the medical side of things. If something is off, we look to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or some other medical explanation. Don’t get me wrong; science and medicine are incredibly valuable. But sometimes these explanations are limiting, focusing only on what’s “wrong” or “disordered.” It can leave us feeling like there’s something fundamentally broken about us.

For example, someone with anxiety might be told they have an overactive brain or that they need medication to “fix” their chemical imbalances. While this might be true from a scientific standpoint, it paints the condition as purely negative. The same goes for things like ADHD, depression, or even bipolar disorder. Each of these is seen as something that needs treatment, something that diminishes a person's value or ability to live fully. But what if we shifted the narrative?

Spiritual Explanations for Common Traits

When we apply a spiritual lens, many of these so-called disorders or challenges begin to take on new meaning. They aren’t just something to be fixed or controlled but may be part of a deeper spiritual journey.

Anxiety

Let’s take anxiety, for instance. From a medical standpoint, it’s considered a disorder where someone is overly worried or fearful. It’s uncomfortable and, at times, debilitating. But what if we looked at it spiritually? Perhaps anxiety isn’t just random, but a heightened sensitivity to the energies around us. People with anxiety often have a deep sense of awareness, and maybe that’s because they’re picking up on things others can’t. Spiritually, it could mean they are empaths, sensitive to the emotions and energies of others, which can be both a gift and a challenge. Instead of seeing anxiety as something negative, it can be seen as a sign of deep intuition, a tool that helps guide us to make the right decisions or avoid certain situations.

ADHD

Similarly, ADHD is often painted as a disorder where people have trouble focusing or sitting still. But spiritually, this could be seen as a manifestation of a more fluid, creative energy. Maybe people with ADHD are not meant to follow the traditional, linear way of thinking that society imposes. Instead, their minds are designed to bounce between ideas, making connections that others might miss. They could be here to push the boundaries of creativity and show that thinking outside the box is not only okay but necessary.

Depression

Depression, too, carries a heavy burden from a medical perspective. It’s something that isolates people, steals joy, and can feel like a constant weight on the soul. But in spiritual terms, depression could be part of what is called “the dark night of the soul,” a period where the soul is going through deep transformation. It’s not just about sadness but about peeling back the layers of old beliefs and habits to discover a more authentic self. Many people who go through spiritual awakenings first experience deep depression, as their old ways of thinking and being no longer fit. It’s a painful process but one that can lead to tremendous growth.

Bipolar Disorder

When we look at bipolar disorder, it’s often described as a mood disorder where people swing between manic highs and depressive lows. Spiritually, however, this could be viewed as a person experiencing the extremes of human emotion and energy. In moments of mania, they might be more connected to higher vibrations, tapping into creative and divine inspiration. The depressive lows could represent a time of reflection and grounding. It’s a journey of learning how to balance these extremes, understanding both the light and dark within oneself, and using that knowledge to bring forth wisdom.

Autism

Then there’s autism, which in medical terms is often associated with challenges in communication and social interaction. Spiritually, though, individuals with autism might be seen as operating on a higher frequency, tuned into patterns and details that others overlook. They may be more connected to higher realms of knowledge, offering insights that push humanity forward in new and unexpected ways. Their unique way of viewing the world could be their gift to us, helping us to see beyond the surface and embrace different perspectives.

The Beauty of a Spiritual Perspective

I want to be clear that I am in no way diminishing the very real suffering that people go through who deal with these disorders. As someone who personally battles anxiety and depression, I understand the weight of these experiences. There are days when I’m constantly searching for answers as to why these feelings come up, and it’s not always easy. Living with these challenges can feel overwhelming, and the labels placed on them can make it seem like something is fundamentally wrong with us.

But I like to think that there are no mistakes in God’s plans. I believe we are all born with the tools we need to fulfill our purpose here on earth, even when those tools come with a lot of weight. Sometimes, what society labels as a disorder is just a part of the unique design we carry, part of the journey we’re on to discover something deeper. The struggles we face may be heavy, but they could also be the very thing that leads us to our purpose.

What I find most comforting about this spiritual lens is that it brings hope and meaning to experiences that might otherwise feel discouraging. Instead of focusing on what’s “wrong,” it allows us to see the possibility of what’s “right.” These traits or challenges aren’t here to break us but to help us grow. They offer lessons in patience, compassion, creativity, and resilience.

This isn’t to say that medical explanations are wrong or that we should ignore them. There’s a place for both medical and spiritual understandings of the world. But by embracing both, we can find a more balanced approach to life’s challenges. We can honor our bodies and minds while also nurturing our spirits.

Acknowledging the Skepticism

Now, I know many people don’t give too much legitimacy to spirituality. We live in a world that is heavily focused on science and facts, and anything that can’t be measured or tested is often dismissed. But just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Think about love, for example. We all know love exists, but can we hold it in our hands? No. It’s a feeling, an energy that flows between us, and yet it’s one of the most powerful forces in the world. Spirituality is similar. Just because we can’t measure it doesn’t mean it’s not real. There is as much possibility in spiritual explanations being true as there is in them being false. We simply don’t know.

And maybe that’s the point—to keep an open mind. To allow ourselves to wonder and to believe that there could be more to life than what we can see and touch. As I continue on this journey in my 50s, I’ve realized that I don’t need all the answers. What I need is peace, and the spiritual perspective gives me that. It helps me find meaning in the chaos and beauty in the challenges. And, ultimately, isn’t that what we’re all searching for?