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1. In your opinion, are all people equipped to find and lead a faithful life, or are there some people who are just not capable of thinking beyond themselves?
It’s hard to know, but I think two things are clear. Most people are capable of leading lives centered on love and faith.
At the same time, there are powerful social trends that have developed over recent decades that work against this such as a preoccupation with wealth and possessions.
2. When somebody is at a crossroads with their faith (whether that pertains to their religion or their belief in a higher power in general), what is the first step they should take, assuming they’d like to rebuild a life of faith?
Our normal mindset is to tell ourselves what to think and do. But spiritual rebuilding can’t be forced. So you may want to start by giving yourself regular breaks from mentally controlling activities like goal setting, prioritizing and decision making to make time for listening to yourself. That means fitting some quality downtime into your life, even it’s as little as twenty or thirty minutes a day or every other day. Walk, meditate or maybe get up a little early for some quiet reflective time just looking out your kitchen window and 
sipping coffee. See what develops on its own – that’s where you’ll find spiritual renewal.
3. What are some places people can go, things they can do, or actions they can take to tap into their spirituality and find inspiration?
In addition to that quality downtime I’ve mentioned, there are all sorts of retreat centers both with and without denominational affiliation that can really impact one’s spiritual formation. Nature is also a huge source of inspiration for many people.
4. What components must be in place for most people to find peace in their existence?
Becoming someone that you truly respect and admire – that’s the key to peace under any circumstances. It’s a matter of becoming someone that you love being.
5. In a time when life can be a rat race full of obligations and automatic movements, how can a person center themselves and become the person they love to be?
Great question – this practical angle has been the focus of my work. It’s a matter of understanding what love is, what faith is, how faith relates to love, and what egoism is. From this foundation of insight, you go on to develop specific practices tailored to your individual way of life that help promote your growth as a person. And they don’t need to consume much time. This is an area where doing a little is far better than doing nothing at all. My book Original Faith: What Your Life Is Trying to Tell You gives details. It’s available on Amazon and through other retailers as shown on my site, where you can also see my approach for yourself by downloading my free eBook at www.originalfaith.com.
About Paul Maurice Martin
At age twenty-three, Paul Maurice Martin had a powerful spontaneous spiritual experience of the kind often sought in meditation. It set his life on a new course. He holds an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School and an M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire. Paul is author of Original Faith: What Your Life Is Trying to Tell You.
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