Could You Be Rejecting Heaven Without Knowing It?
Do you consider yourself a good person? Even though we admit it or not, most of us like to think of ourselves as good people. We try to be kind, help others, and not hurt anyone. And yes, there’s a great place to start. But, did you know that simply ”being good” might not be enough? Heaven requires more than just a few actions, it requires continuous growth. It’s about how we live, what we believe. It’s about choosing something deeper every day and never giving up.
Let’s say that it’s a journey. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s easier than we might imagine to make choices that slowly pull us away from that path. We say ”no” to Heaven more often than we realize, and we do that by ignoring what truly matters.
If you want to become the best version of yourself, this article is for you. It doesn’t matter if you are a religious person or you are just being curious, it’s important to understand which are the most common mistakes people make, without even realizing. Read on to find out more.
7 Ways You’re Distancing Yourself from Heaven
1. Living with bitterness
You might not realize it, but bitterness is one of the most destructive forces. When you hold grudges, replay old wounds, or nurture resentment, you’re hurting yourself, but also block off the flow of forgiveness and love that defines heavenly spirit.
People often see bitterness as a form of protection because they believe that if they let things go, they’ll let others think they win. In reality, holding on to hurt doesn’t solve any problem. Imagine a beautiful garden being watered every day with contained water. The roots absorb what they’re given.
Even though living with bitterness doesn’t mean that you are a bad person, it makes it harder to become the best version of yourself. By being bitter, you force yourself to carry a form of heaviness that doesn’t let you be happy. It convinces you that justice must come on your terms and timeline. But heaven doesn’t work like that. You need to choose forgiveness.
By doing so, you will begin to heal, because by forgiving others, you will also forgive yourself and find the inner peace you need to move forward. Being optimistic and releasing any resentment is the way to spirituality.
2. Chasing materialism
When was the last time you chose materialism over meaning? Unfortunately, we live in a world of trends, where objects seem to be valued a lot, when in reality, they mean nothing. Most of us dream about a nice home, a reliable car, or a great vacation (at least once a year). These things are considered an important part of a well-lived life. It’s easy to measure success by what you wear, where you live, or even how many followers you have. All these things are moving our attention from what truly matters. Kindness, wisdom, humility, and love are some of the values people forget about.
When we chase materialism over meaning, we distance ourselves from spiritual growth, that why, over time, more and more people realize that their lives are full but feel empty. So, remember that the richest people in heaven are those who understood how blessed they were and were fulfilled by the little things in their lives.
3. Prioritizing ego over empathy
We can all admit that empathy requires vulnerability. So, that’s where the problem appears. People need a lot of courage to share their vulnerability with others. On the other hand, there’s ego, which always wants to win and to be praised.
Don’t get us wrong! While confidence is an important aspect of life, it can easily build a wall between us and spirituality. You might not realize you’re prioritizing ego until relationships start to suffer. Maybe you’re always the one talking, but never the one listening. Or you constantly feel the need to prove your worth. Heaven is not impressed by performances. It values empathy and humility.
So, the next time you feel like ego is taking control, ask yourself ‘‘How can I love better?”/ ”How can I be better?”, instead of ‘‘How can I be seen?”. The moments you apologize first, when you lift others without waiting for the credit, those are the real moments that matter. Be humble and always choose empathy, even though the world you live in prioritizes ego.
4. Using religion as a shield
Religion is like a border between people and heaven, between you and spirituality. But, unfortunately, people use religion not to grow but to hide. Remember that the most important thing is how you serve, not how you pray. Use religion as a guide in your life; a guide that has the power to transform you and help you become the best version of yourself.
In a world full of uncertainty and conflict, the power of religion lies in its ability to shape characters. Too often, however, religion is misunderstood. When it’s used as a guide, it becomes a mirror rather than just a mask. It encourages spiritual depth and help us lean into humility, not superiority.
The goal of religion is never perfection. It’s transformation… and transformation comes only when you truly understand religion and use it as a guide throughout your life.
5. Thinking ”being good” is enough
Nowadays, ”being good” is seen as a standard. We are scared to lie and to steal, and we try our best to donate once in a while. But have you ever asked yourself if that’s enough? Yes, you’re not hurting anyone and on the surface, it may sound like you are living a decent life. However, there’s a huge difference between being good and living with purpose.
Most of us grew up with the idea that goodness is about not doing any bad things, but in reality, it’s not just about staying out of trouble; it’s about showing up when others need your help. Being good means living with compassion and with a desire to grow and learn more. Everyone can be ”nice”, it’s extremely easy. The difference is made between those who go far beyond the surface and the ones who don’t.
Let’s think about it this way: being good is the bare minimum a person can do. What truly matters is the heart that’s willing to be transformed. So, next time you say you’re a good person, think twice, because you’re most likely lying to yourself.
6. Idealizing success
In our world, success means everything. Social media is one of the tools that exacerbates the trends with great bodies, fancy cars, and designer outfits. We’re bombarded daily with countless images of dream lives and edited bodies, making us forget about what success truly means.
Being successful shouldn’t be measured by followers or likes, because by idealizing appearance at the center of our identity, we start chasing things that will never satisfy our soul. We start measuring our worth by likes and compliments, ending up comparing ourselves with what we see online.
Social media represents a toxic place where Photoshop has become a woman’s best friend. Isn’t that sad? Unfortunately, there are more and more women who are not happy about their looks and appearance and are always dreaming about transforming their bodies. All these social media trends are manipulating us, making us guide ourselves by the beauty standards we see on Instagram and TikTok.
Remember that you were made for more than appearances. You were made for depth and connection. So, don’t let all those temporary trends manipulate you, and don’t get impressed so easily. The most successful life is the one that brings light, not the one that shines on the screens.
7. Avoiding the truth
This is probably one of the biggest mistakes people make. But ignoring uncomfortable truths doesn’t make them disappear. It can actually put you away from the path of growth, and also the path that leads to Heaven.
Truth can be difficult to accept because it usually forces us to confront parts of ourselves we’d rather avoid and not look at. For example, if we realize we’ve been selfish or we’ve hurt someone, it might be unpleasant to accept the reality. It humbles us. It strips away the image we’ve worked hard to protect. However, don’t forget that it also opens the door to healing. All you need to do is be brave enough to walk through it.
The most common thing people say when they make a mistake is ”Everyone does it”. Instead of admitting the truth. These mental shortcuts help us avoid guilt. So, next time something feels off, don’t run from it. Because no matter how uncomfortable the truth is, it represents growth.
Before leaving, here’s a great book that can be found on Amazon. It offers a lot of heavenly answers, and it’s perfect for guidance, encouragement, and grieving. It’s called Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions about Our Eternal Home (Booklet) Adapted from the Award-Winning Full-Length Book (A Great Gift for Outreach, Encouragement, and Grieving)
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