In a society that often measures success by wealth, possessions, and achievements, spiritual psychologist Dr. Bruce Davis, Ph.D., contends that this focus has led many to overlook what truly makes life fulfilling: love. Davis, an international retreat guide at Silent Stay Retreats in Montecito, CA and Assisi Retreats in Assisi, Italy, and a nine-time author, draws inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, who famously renounced his wealth and privilege in pursuit of a deeper connection with life.
“Francis gave up wealth, privilege, and comfort because he discovered something more lasting,” Davis said. “When he stopped running away from his soul, from the great love inside, his life was transformed. Consequently, when he had plenty, his heart smiled. And when he had nothing, his heart still smiled.”
Davis believes that people often chase material comforts to distract themselves from a deeper sense of emptiness. “Most of us spend our lives running from this love, keeping ourselves busy in pursuit of the small pleasures and comforts of this world,” he said. “We use them to numb and distract ourselves from the uncomfortable feeling that something essential is missing.”
However, Davis emphasizes that the answer is not necessarily to give up possessions or worldly comforts; rather, it is to make more room for love. “Do not focus so much on what you think you should give up. Love more instead!” he said. “Giving up everything is no guarantee of finding the soul. Instead, love first, second, and third. When we discover that deeper love, as Francis did, the things of this world inevitably begin to lose their hold on us. We find less need to chase material pleasures and a growing desire to live for love and love alone.”
Davis’s perspective challenges the prevailing cultural narrative that equates success with accumulation. His work as a retreat guide and author, including his book The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, explores the intersection of psychology and spirituality. He holds a doctorate from Saybrook University and has guided retreats worldwide since 1983. His 1977 book, “The Magical Child Within You,” was one of the earliest books devoted to nurturing the inner child. Bruce and his wife, Ruth, lived for 12 years in Assisi, Italy, where they founded the Assisi Retreat Center, ranked among the top 10 meditation retreats in the world by CNN and Travel & Leisure magazine.
In a time when many are re-evaluating their priorities, Davis’s message offers a counterpoint to the relentless pursuit of more. By focusing on love rather than material gain, he suggests, individuals can find a sense of peace and fulfillment that transcends circumstances. His insights, detailed further at brucedavis.onlinepresskit247.com, resonate with those seeking meaning beyond the superficial. As Davis puts it, “When we discover that deeper love, the things of this world inevitably begin to lose their hold on us.”
