There is a post coming tomorrow. I would be very interested in your feedback. If it is not helpful, feel free to contact me off line via my e-mail address under the “About Us” section of the site.

Blessings

1) What exercises or specific aspects of spiritual direction have been most helpful to you?

The consistency and accountability are two main aspects, I think, that have been very beneficial to my spiritual life. Especially when there are specific problems/goals/topics/etc that come up that require more than simply one “talk-through.” As I reflect back on my three-year relationship with my SD (which I've been thinking about a bit since that has now ended and I am looking for a new one), I've noticed that some of the things that stick out the most and remain with me are sayings or pieces of advice that at the time almost seemed like off-handed comments or things to which I didn't pay too much attention.

2) What do you wish you had known before entering into the process?

Haha, well, I think my case might be a little different than everyone else's. When I first began direction, I didn't even know what it was! I was a newly baptized Catholic and I had set up an appointment with the chaplain to ask some question or another… and we ended up talking for almost an hour with our conversation concluding by him telling me to set up another time for about three weeks later! I think it was only after a few months that he actually mentioned the phrase “spiritual direction” and explained what it was to me.

3) What are your questions about spiritual direction?

As I prepare for a new director, I suppose I do find that I have a few questions. Is spiritual direction the same for everyone? What if my new SD contradicts something that my old SD said/instructed/helped me discern?

4) What do you struggle with in spiritual direction? What has been frustrating to you?

For about the first year or so of SD, I found that I became more obsessed with direction itself than I was focused on Jesus and having direction as a *tool* in that relationship. My intention, of course, was to grow in holiness… but I become more focused on the 'process' than I was on Jesus. I also fell often into spiritual pride– somehow trying to impress my SD or what have you. I didn't really notice that that was going on at the time, although every once in a while I would recognize it… but then I would be too afraid to bring it up to my SD.

But God is good and drew me out of that cycle. Other things that could be difficult in direction… The shifting moods of my SD. Often times his own mood (or mine!) could change how direction went. And the inconsistency of *how* direction would go… sometimes he would ask a lot of questions and that would get conversation started, or other times he would just wait for me to talk (and being somewhat of an introvert, that was always the most difficult for me).

Are you in spiritual direction but still stuck in your spiritual growth? If yes, where are you stuck?

At times it can be tempting to say that I am “stuck” in my spiritual growth, especially because I am so eager to move along the way of perfection; I can often get disappointed with myself and my progress. But, at the same time, I have also had the experience of looking back on times when I thought I was “stuck,” but realized later that that was a time where I was making the most growth, even though I didn't know it at the time. Sometimes our frustration with ourselves, the fact that we aren't growing as fast as we think we ought, can make us think that we are stuck even when we're not– even at times when God is doing the most work in us.

That's not to say that we can't really get stuck or even back-slide. And sometimes that may involve the SD, one way or the other. I think sometimes God gives a SD that can take us only so far and then has someone else in mind for the remainder of the journey (or the next leg of it). I don't know much about that, as I'm obviously very young in direction. But just in my own experience, I think that the timing of my SD getting a new position (and thus our relationship coming to a close) and my own spiritual growth/journey are tied together quite nicely. In some ways, I think that my SD has played his role in my spiritual life and it really is time for someone else to pick up where he left off.

5) If you could ask your spiritual director to change one thing about your relationship, what would it be?

I'm not sure I can really think of anything…

http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/01/11…

Your feedback, as with so many others, is very insightful and helpful. I also had the opportunity, based on your prompting, to speak with Sister Susan. It sounds like the Apostles of the Interior Life is a fantastic organization.

Many blessings to you and yours as you continue to seek Him.

1. What exercises or specific aspects of spiritual direction have been most helpful to you?
Definitely having an objective perspective to help me re-focus when emotions and gut reactions cloud my judgment. Also, one thing my SD always reminded me of early on was that she could only help me with as much as I gave her to help me with: it was a good and constant challenge to pray for both her and my docility to the Holy Spirit, to venture more deeply into vulnerability and trust, and led to healing of wounds I never would have realized existed had I not been gently pushed to open up.

2. What do you wish you had known before entering into the process?
Not a whole lot honestly; my spiritual director used our first meeting to discuss what I was expecting, what she would be working toward, and what spiritual direction was meant to accomplish. It answered a lot of questions I had before we really developed the relationship.

4. What do you struggle with in spiritual direction? What has been frustrating to you?
One of the biggest challenges after a while was remembering that despite the wisdom and wonderful advice I'd been given my spiritual director is still human. However, after discussing it with her, it also ended up being one of the most beautiful realizations, because our shared humanity helped me to be more open as well as further strengthened my trust in her because I realized she does really understand my faults and shortcomings; after that, I rarely was hesitant to share things with her for fear of her being disappointed, because she has to struggle with recurring tendencies and concupiscence, too!

5. Are you in spiritual direction but still stuck in your spiritual growth? If yes, where are you stuck?
I generally only get stuck when I have not been completely open or clear to my SD.

6. If you could ask your spiritual director to change one thing about your relationship, what would it be?
We've worked through many of the things that have been difficult in the relationship, so at this point there isn't anything I would change.

2. What do you wish you had known before entering into the process?
I wish that i had known that I should prepare for those. When I started, I wasn't even sure what guidance was. I had the thought that it was the director who led. Now I spend a week or more preparing and praying about the next session. I also get way more out of it, and the session seems to go in one direction, and not wander all over. I feel that this is a gift from God, a way in which He shows His love.

3. What are your questions about spiritual direction?
The one thing that comes to mind is this… are there any stupid or waste of time questions? I do feel embarrased about some of the things that I have inquires about during the session.

4. What do you struggle with in spiritual direction? What has been frustrating to you?
My struggles have been when my director spoke so far above my understanding, and when I say I do not understand, he talks down to me. I have been away from the church for a long time, and I ask about things that is more “common knowledge”. It is hard to come to an understanding of what God wants of me, when I do not understand. I switched directors and have solved this issue. Another issue that I have had was finding time when the two of us are available. Both of us are incredibly busy, so we do not get together as often as I would like.

5. Are you in spiritual direction but still stuck in your spiritual growth? If yes, where are you stuck?
I have been blessed to find an incredible director. Not only have I worked through a lot of issues that have arose, but I “learned” how to pray, and am now further along than I was this time last year!

6. If you could ask your spiritual director to change one thing about your relationship, what would it be?
In order for me to answer this question, I would feel more like a judge, and I am not worthy to judge anyone. I have been led by Christ to my spiritual director. He is very human and shares personal experiences. The idea behind spiritual direction, to my knowledge, is to get closer to Christ. I have grown by leaps and bounds in my spirituality. My faith is blossoming, although I still have a long way to go.

I hope that this helps, may Christ bless you all abundantly, all the days of your life.