That weird phase you’re going through might be the universe’s graduation notice.
Everyone talks about spiritual awakenings like they arrive with trumpets and lightning bolts, but the reality is often much quieter and confusingly similar to what some might call a crisis. You might be experiencing profound spiritual growth without realizing it, mistaking the discomfort of expansion for something going wrong.
Think of it like a hermit crab outgrowing its shell – there’s a necessary period of vulnerability and discomfort before finding a new home. The symptoms of spiritual evolution can masquerade as ordinary life problems or even mental health concerns. But there are subtle distinctions that separate genuine awakening from garden-variety existential dread. Here are twelve signs you might be experiencing spiritual growth rather than just having a really weird month.
1. Netflix tastes suddenly pivot from reality TV to quantum physics documentaries.
One day you’re binge-watching reality TV without a second thought, and the next you’re inexplicably drawn to documentaries about quantum physics or ancient philosophy. This shift doesn’t feel forced or like you’re trying to impress anyone – you simply can’t muster enthusiasm for things that used to captivate you while new interests emerge from seemingly nowhere. As Chris Aviles explains in Tech & Learning, this phenomenon aligns with tangential learning, where individuals self-educate on topics introduced through enjoyable contexts.
When experiencing a breakdown, disinterest typically stems from exhaustion or depression. But this transformation feels more like upgrading from standard to high-definition television. Interest isn’t lost in life – instead, access is gained to deeper dimensions of it.
2. The clock on the wall starts playing jazz with your perception of time.
The perception of time starts behaving strangely, stretching and compressing in ways that don’t match the clock. Some moments expand into eternity while entire days can vanish in what feels like minutes. Many people catch themselves completely losing track of time when engaged in certain activities, entering what psychologists call “flow states” with increasing frequency.
A study led by Scott Sinnett and published in the National Library of Medicine found that during flow states, individuals often experience altered time perception, with time either slowing down or speeding up depending on the activity and level of engagement. In contrast, this awakening brings a more fluid relationship with time, like switching from a rigid schedule to jazz improvisation. Attachment to deadlines and timelines decreases while effectiveness and presence paradoxically increase. The constant background pressure of “not enough time” occasionally lifts, revealing a spaciousness that was always there beneath the rush.
3. The universe upgrades from snail mail to instant messaging with coincidences.
Life develops an uncanny sense of timing as meaningful coincidences start accumulating faster than anyone can dismiss them. A long-lost friend might come to mind, only to call that same day. Books fall open to exactly the passage needed in that moment. The right person appears precisely when their specific expertise is required.
Psychology Today‘s Dr. Dana Klisanin explains that Carl Jung’s concept of synchronicity describes these meaningful coincidences as signs of an interconnected universe, where seemingly random events hold deeper significance. These synchronicities feel quietly remarkable. There’s no sense of being personally targeted by cosmic forces; rather, interconnected patterns that were always present but previously invisible become apparent. These “coincidences” often carry a subtle sense of humor and lightness rather than ominous significance.
4. Dreams switch from basic cable to premium.
The dream world suddenly shifts into high-definition, complete with surround sound and emotional depth that carries into waking hours. Many people begin remembering multiple dreams per night, experience lucid dreaming for the first time, or notice recurring symbols and themes that feel personally significant. These dreams often feel more “real” than ordinary dreams, leaving stronger impressions that linger throughout the day.
Disruptive stress dreams that accompany breakdown periods typically leave the dreamer feeling drained or anxious. In contrast, these enhanced dreams frequently offer guidance, creative solutions, or emotional processing that benefits waking life. The boundary between conscious and subconscious becomes more permeable, allowing for better communication between different parts of the psyche. Insights received through dreams often help resolve longstanding issues or creative blocks, acting as a bridge between everyday thinking and deeper wisdom.
5. Your surroundings suddenly come with invisible energy ratings.
Suddenly certain environments either feed or drain energy in physically perceptible ways. Crowded malls might leave someone exhausted while natural settings instantly recharge them. Spaces that never bothered them before might feel unbearably heavy, while simple, unassuming locations provide unexpected peace.
Those experiencing overstimulation or withdrawal during a mental health crisis often find all environments overwhelming. Spiritual awakening, however, brings a more nuanced relationship with surroundings – like upgrading from detecting only three colors to seeing the full spectrum. There’s a natural drawing toward spaces with better energy without needing to intellectualize the choice. This isn’t about becoming fragile; it’s about recognizing that environments have always affected everyone – the emotional calluses that previously numbed this awareness are simply falling away.
6. The body becomes a more accurate truth detector than the mind.
Physical responses start providing instant feedback about situations, people, and choices before logical analysis catches up. Gut reactions, throat tightness, or sudden energy shifts might occur when making decisions or entering certain conversations. These sensations become increasingly reliable guides, often proving more accurate than mental analysis alone.
Anxiety-based physical symptoms typically feel random or overwhelming. These bodily signals, however, operate more like a sophisticated navigation system giving clear directional input.
Many awakening individuals develop what indigenous cultures might call “original knowing” – wisdom that arrives through the body rather than the overthinking mind. Someone having a breakdown might feel disconnected or at war with their body, but spiritual awakening creates a deeper partnership with the physical self, revealing intelligence that was always present but previously ignored.
7. The falling autumn leaf becomes a surprisingly profound life coach.
Regular life starts speaking through metaphors and symbols as everyday occurrences take on deeper significance. A bird’s behavior outside the window might demonstrate exactly what’s needed to understand a current challenge. The pattern in which autumn leaves fall suddenly illustrates the natural cycle of creative processes. These moments don’t feel random but specifically meaningful to personal journeys.
Referential thinking during psychological distress often leads to paranoia or grandiose interpretations. By contrast, these symbolic insights enrich rather than complicate life. They offer practical wisdom through natural metaphors without feeding fear or separation. It’s as if existence has been running a sophisticated teaching program in the background of ordinary reality all along. These symbols typically promote greater harmony and understanding – a key distinction from the confusing patterns perceived during breakdown states.
8. Small talk becomes increasingly unbearable while deep conversation turns addictive.
During spiritual awakening, compassion for others’ struggles often deepens while patience for superficial interactions and social performances simultaneously diminishes. This seemingly contradictory development might mean feeling more connected to humanity as a whole while finding certain social gatherings increasingly difficult to endure.
People withdrawing due to depression or anxiety experience a general disconnection from others. This heightened sensitivity to authenticity, however, isn’t about becoming elitist; it’s more like upgrading from dial-up to fiber-optic internet – once experiencing the clarity of genuine connection, the static of performative interactions becomes more noticeable and exhausting.
There’s no becoming antisocial but rather developing a preference for fewer, deeper connections over numerous superficial ones. The compassion that simultaneously expands helps prevent this discernment from hardening into criticism or isolation.
9. Random crying might leave you feeling refreshed not drained.
Sudden emotions may wash through without any connection to current circumstances – profound gratitude while sitting in traffic, unexpected grief while grocery shopping, or overwhelming love for humanity while watching strangers in a cafe. These emotions feel both personal and larger than individual experience, often carrying a sense of release or purification.
Mood swings during psychological distress typically create lingering disturbance or depletion. These emotional waves, however, usually pass through without disrupting equilibrium, more like weather systems moving across an open sky, often leaving a person feeling lighter or clearer afterward. This emotional fluidity doesn’t feel like losing control but rather like expanding the capacity to experience the full spectrum of human feeling without becoming identified with any particular state. The emotions themselves often have a different quality – deeper, cleaner, and less attached to personal stories.
10. Scrolling social media begins to feel like a chore.
An unexpected preference for quiet might emerge that goes beyond normal introversion or need for rest. Moments of silence start feeling rich and nourishing rather than empty or boring. The constant information stream from social media, news, and entertainment begins to feel like empty calories compared to the substantial nourishment of quiet contemplation.
During depression, withdrawal happens because interactions feel draining and pointless. This pull toward silence, however, feels energizing rather than depleting. It’s less about escaping and more about being drawn to something of genuine value that was previously overlooked – like discovering that beneath the static of multiple radio stations playing simultaneously, there’s been a symphony all along. This new relationship with silence doesn’t reduce effectiveness in the world; paradoxically, regular contact with this quiet dimension often enhances creativity, clarity, and resilience when engaging with the inevitable noise of modern life.
11. Stories are recognized as fiction rather than fact.
A space opens up between a person and their thoughts where mental narrative-creating tendencies can be observed without immediate identification with every story generated. Catching oneself in the act of automatic interpretation – “She didn’t smile, she must be angry with me” – reveals it as just one possible explanation rather than absolute truth. This witnessing capacity brings a profound sense of freedom.
Detachment during dissociative states generally comes with numbness and disengagement. This meta-awareness, by contrast, brings increased presence and engagement. The experience is like being both the actor in a play and the audience simultaneously – fully participating while maintaining a broader perspective.
Identity isn’t lost but rather expanded to include both the storyteller and something more spacious that holds all stories. This witnessing presence becomes a refuge during difficult circumstances, offering breathing room where previously there was only reactivity.
12. Gratitude comes out of nowhere even when times are hard.
Genuine appreciation might emerge during challenges that would have previously triggered only resistance or negativity. This isn’t toxic positivity or denial of difficulties, but a mysterious capacity to sense multiple layers of experience simultaneously, including the gifts hidden within struggles. There might be sincere gratitude for the lessons in a painful relationship ending or recognition of the growth opportunity in losing a job.
Forced gratitude practices often become spiritual bypassing, artificially suppressing authentic feelings. Spontaneous appreciation, however, arises naturally without denying the challenges faced. The experience resembles developing emotional stereoscopic vision – capable of perceiving both the difficulty and the gift simultaneously without one negating the other. This natural gratitude brings resilience that doesn’t require denying reality but comes from experiencing it more completely. There’s no detachment from normal human reactions but rather an addition of new dimensions to emotional experience.