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Spiritual bypassing (lemmy.world)
submitted 14 hours ago by ArchsageRamases@lemmy.world to c/spirituality@lemmy.world
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This is making me hate spirituality as most do this. Spiritual bypassing is using spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid dealing with painful emotions, unresolved trauma, or difficult life issues. Coined by psychologist John Welwood, it's the act of trying to "rise above" human struggles—like anger, grief, or conflict—before fully processing them.

Examples include:

Saying "everything happens for a reason" to dismiss someone's grief. Using meditation to numb emotions instead of feeling them. Claiming "we're all one" to avoid addressing injustice or personal accountability. While it may offer temporary relief, spiritual bypassing can lead to emotional stagnation, dissociation, or even spiritual narcissism. True growth comes from facing our pain with compassion, not bypassing it Added by me: "Love and light" only people who fear/attack darkness and ego and don't integrate and use them.

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[-] _OneSoul_@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

I don't know that "most" do this. It's just that obviously you're not going to notice the ones that don't do it. But yes, it's a real issue and one of the reasons I'm not on board with the "I'm my own guru" sentiment or avoiding communities. That's usually a great way of isolating one-self from healthy feedback. Of course there's the flip side that teachers can be corrupt and communities can be cults but I'd say in this day of hyper-individualism and algorithm based spirituality, spiritual bypassing is the bigger problem. Of course you can have a spiritually bypassy collective but ehh... those are more likely to also get called out these days, thanks to social media.

You might enjoy Near Enemies of The Truth and Opening The Heart of Compassion. They get into the topic.

[-] ArchsageRamases@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

Thank you 💯

this post was submitted on 12 May 2026
4 points (100.0% liked)

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