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Writer's pictureGina N. Brown

What Is Spiritual Bypassing?


Simply put, spiritual bypassing is when someone uses spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid dealing with painful emotions, unresolved wounds, or difficult life experiences. Instead of facing and working through these issues, they may use phrases like “everything happens for a reason” or focus only on positive thinking, which can prevent genuine healing and emotional growth.


For example, instead of grieving a profound loss, someone might say, “It’s all part of God’s plan; God is still on the throne, And this too shall pass,” and then avoid feeling the sadness.


While spiritual beliefs can be a great source of strength, spiritual bypass happens when those beliefs become a way to escape or ignore real feelings and challenges.


And the issue is...

Spiritual bypassing is an issue because it prevents people from fully processing and healing from their pain or trauma. By using spirituality to avoid difficult emotions or experiences, individuals may:

  1. Suppress Emotions: Instead of feeling and working through grief, anger, or fear, these emotions get pushed down, which can lead to increased emotional distress, anxiety, or even physical symptoms over time.

  2. Delay Healing: True healing often requires acknowledging and working through pain. Spiritual bypassing can create the illusion of peace or healing, but it doesn’t address the root issues that need care and attention.

  3. Hinder Personal Growth: Facing struggles honestly can lead to deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth. Bypassing these challenges robs people of the opportunity to grow, learn, and develop resilience.

  4. Impact Relationships: When people use spiritual bypassing, it can be challenging to connect authentically with others. For example, offering spiritual platitudes instead of empathy can make others feel unheard or dismissed.

  5. Create Spiritual Disconnection: Paradoxically, using spirituality to avoid problems can weaken one’s faith. Genuine spiritual practices often involve wrestling with difficult questions and emotions, which can strengthen and deepen one's relationship with God or one's spiritual beliefs.


In short, spiritual bypassing can prevent authentic emotional and spiritual well-being, leaving unresolved issues that may resurface later. Recognizing and addressing it allows for more honest and holistic healing.


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