The Power and Pain of Being Humbled on the Spiritual Path

When you ascend through levels of consciousness and deepen your connection with divine guidance, there comes a stage that many experience—a moment when, if you’re not careful, you risk falling into toxic patterns. It’s a fascinating yet challenging aspect of spiritual evolution, and I’ve seen it happen with many people. If you’re not humbled during this time, you might inadvertently develop behaviours and attitudes that are harmful, both to yourself and those around you.

The Subtle Shift to Toxic Spirituality

When you’re doing powerful spiritual work, it’s easy to start seeing yourself as important, even special. You might not realise it at first—it creeps in subtly. It manifests in ways like becoming controlling, needing to be the centre of attention, correcting people, or speaking as though you alone hold the truth. What’s surprising is that these power trips can happen at quite advanced levels of spiritual development.

I’ve seen people fall into this trap—people I admired and worked with. They became impossible to work with, convinced they were above others, and lost sight of their humility. It’s heartbreaking to witness because it doesn’t just affect their relationships; it affects their spiritual path. The work they bring into the world may still hold its integrity—divine work remains divine—but their personal behaviour becomes an issue.

"The journey of growth can make it easy to see yourself as special, but true spirituality is about inclusivity, humility, and balance."

A Sign of Misalignment: Overcharging

One clear indicator of this misalignment is when people begin to overcharge for their services. Spirituality, at its core, is about making transformative work accessible to all. It’s not about accumulating wealth or attaching worth to inflated prices. A person in integrity recognises the importance of affordability and inclusivity, often wishing they could offer services for free.

Being appropriately remunerated is essential—fairly valuing the time, energy, and effort that goes into spiritual work. But when prices rise to an illogical level, reflecting more ego than service, it’s a sign of imbalance. This pattern often ties back to the belief that one is "infinitely worthy" or above others, further reinforcing their separation from the humility required for true spiritual alignment.

The Painful Gift of Being Humbled

I’ve gone through this kind of humbling phase myself, as have some colleagues and friends. It’s brutal. It feels like the universe—or your spiritual team—is cutting off your motivation, throwing you off track, and penalising you. It’s destabilising and painful, leaving you feeling as though you’ve done something wrong. But what’s actually happening is the universe putting things in place to humble you. These moments may temporarily divert you off your path, but they’re not derailing you. Instead, they’re taking you onto side branches, paths that deepen and broaden your understanding and compassion. 

When you return to your main path, you’re better equipped, with more tools and insights than you had before. Looking back, I realise how valuable these moments are. They might feel like punishment at the time, but they’re not. They’re the best thing that could have happened, preventing you from falling into toxic patterns.

The Dangers of the Ego Trap

One of the most toxic patterns I’ve observed is often called the “Jesus complex.” People begin to see themselves as more than others, as though they alone have access to divine guidance. They speak with authority that dismisses others, acting as though they are the only ones with the answers. The truth is, when you’re truly connected to divine guidance, the information you receive is not exclusive. It flows to everyone. It’s validated by those around you who are also tapped into that same universal wisdom.

No one is above anyone else. Believing otherwise is not only ludicrous but dangerous. This kind of behaviour often leads to a person’s decline. I’ve seen one case where someone reached a point of despondence. They lost belief in themselves and the work they were doing. It’s a tragic outcome, but it underscores the risks of unchecked ego in spiritual growth.

Spiritual Addiction vs Passion

Another trap I’ve observed is the shift from passion to addiction. Spiritual work, when approached with balance, is driven by genuine passion and alignment with a higher purpose. But when it becomes an addiction, it loses that purity. It becomes about chasing the next high, the next breakthrough, the next ability, level, or the next validation.

Additionally, we can become so obsessed with our spiritual life that we abandon all aspects of being a human living in a physical world. This detachment can lead to neglecting relationships, other interests, and the sense of balance that makes life rich and fulfilling. When spirituality consumes us to the exclusion of everything else, we lose the opportunity to have a meaningful human experience. Incorporating a balanced life—one that nurtures a variety of interests and purposes beyond spirituality—is essential. In essence, everything is spirituality. Understanding this in a balanced way, where a rich garden of interests and motivations is cultivated, inspires much greater advancement and deeper connection with the universe.

These are traps that are all too easy to fall into, and they can happen to anyone at any stage of spiritual evolution. That’s why being humbled is so important—it’s a course correction that keeps you aligned with your true purpose.

The Importance of Humility

Humility is not just a virtue; it’s a necessity on the spiritual path. When you see others around you falling into toxic patterns, it’s a reminder of how vital it is to stay grounded. Steering clear of those who exhibit a “God complex” or who speak as though they alone hold the truth is essential to maintaining your own integrity and balance.

At the same time, it’s important to recognise that their work may still hold value. The divine work they bring into the world is intact with integrity, even if their behaviour is problematic. However, their personal journey and relationships will suffer if they don’t realign with humility and self-awareness.

"Humility is the foundation of authentic spiritual growth. Being humbled is not a punishment; it’s the universe gifting you an opportunity to realign."

What Happens to Those Who Fall Off Track?

It’s hard to say what the ultimate outcome is for those who fall into these toxic patterns. I’ve seen people decline, but I’ve also seen people come back stronger after being humbled. For those who don’t course-correct, the consequences are uncertain. What’s clear is that spiritual growth is not a straight path—it’s full of detours, challenges, and opportunities to deepen your understanding.