Stop Thinking About God, Start Acting
I often catch myself escaping into my thoughts instead of actually living. I wonder: Does God exist? And if so, who is He? What happens when we die? Does all of this have some deeper meaning, or are we just here by accident? These are fascinating questions—you can spend hours, hell, even a whole lifetime on them. But do these contemplations make me a better person? Do they help me in my relationships with others?
I see more and more that this is one of the biggest traps in spirituality. People often get lost this way, escaping into big questions so they don’t have to deal with what’s difficult right here and now—working on themselves, on their character, on how they treat other people.
Spirituality Is Not an Escape
In my articles, like “How I See Spirituality” or “What Do I Believe?”, I often emphasize that spirituality should be something everyday. Not a Sunday ritual, not meditating in isolation from the world, but a way of life.
It’s easy to be spiritual when you’re sitting in peace and quiet, pondering the infinite nature of the universe. It’s much harder to stay calm and kind when someone cuts you off in traffic, your boss is complaining, and the kids are screaming. And that is exactly where our true spirituality is tested—in the dirt and chaos of everyday life.
If your reflections on the nature of God don’t translate into you being more patient with your loved ones, more honest at work, or more empathetic toward strangers—then what are they for?
God “Doesn’t Exist”—In the Sense You Think
Sometimes I like to think about this in a slightly provocative, philosophical way. Maybe God… doesn’t exist? Not in the sense that He isn’t there, but that His nature is “beyond existence.” We exist. The chair you’re sitting on exists. Your problems exist. Matter, energy—all of this “is.” God, if He is the absolute, might escape these categories entirely.
Why am I writing this? Because if God is beyond our understanding and beyond our “existence,” maybe we should stop wasting energy trying to define Him and focus on what we have right here. on the matter we live in. On the energy we have at our disposal. On the time we’ve been given.
We have to live. We have to act. Philosophizing is important, but only as a tool.
Reflection as a Tool, Not a Goal
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not encouraging thoughtlessness. in “Do I Believe in God?”, I ask myself a ton of questions. But I’ve reached a point where I treat these questions differently.
Reflection is meant to serve us. It should be like a compass. I sit down, think, consider my values, look for inspiration—all so that I can get up and walk in a specific direction.
If you just sit and stare at the compass, you won’t get anywhere.
The goal isn’t just thinking. The goal is finding values—like kindness, respect, honesty, love—and learning how to apply them in practice.
Less Theology, More Values
I believe in universal values. I believe that regardless of whether you are Christian, Buddhist, atheist, or agnostic, you know what good is. You know when you are hurting another person and when you are helping them.
Instead of wondering if God prefers this prayer or that one, ask yourself if your actions today brought relief to someone. Did your words build someone up, or tear them down?
In “Why Do We Live?”, I wrote about the search for meaning. For me, that meaning is found less and less in answering “why,” and more and more in answering “how.”
- How can I help today?
- How can I stay calm in a stressful situation?
- How can I be more present for my family?
This is the real work. This is real spirituality.
So, let’s stop “thinking about God” as an abstract concept to be solved for a moment. Let’s start looking for Him (or simply looking for Good) in action. Because values are dead until we bring them to life. Until we shake someone’s hand, smile, or hold back a mean comment.
Don’t escape to the heavens. Stay on the ground and do some good here.
If my writing has inspired or helped you, I would be grateful for your support.
Need support yourself? Discover how I can help you.
AI Disclosure
I see my thoughts as the essence, much like the soul, and AI helps me give them form. It supports me with research, translation, and organizing ideas, but every perspective is my own. Curious how I use AI? Read more here.
