Sometimes we need a rude awakening to reach a spiritual awakening. My friend, Lily, was called out for being critical of—well, just about everything. The restaurant’s menu was not extensive enough. Or too “all over the place like a Greek diner.” The movie was too long. Or too short. The weather? Always too hot or too cold. She wasn’t even aware of how judgmental she was. She had an opinion and thought we all wanted to hear it.

Maybe she was ready to face something about herself. When her friend suggested it was something she could look at, she first got angry, then got defensive, and finally felt that burn of recognition that comes when we face an unpleasant truth about ourselves.

But that’s the critical moment. That’s when we can use a rude awakening and transform it into a spiritual awakening. That’s when we step out of denial and decide that self-improvement is needed.

But don’t be too down on yourself. Think of this as home-improvement. A house needs work occasionally. So do we.

Tool for Tuesday: We can use a rude awakening as an opportunity for a spiritual awakening.

Here’s a current event example of how we can use a rude awakening for change. The stolen passports on the missing Malaysian airline flight demands new procedures…