If you live in a big city or a very crowded area like much of Southern California, you are at a disadvantage when it comes to spiritual development.  The large number of negative and materialistic people in those areas creat a block to spiritual development that can be difficult to overcome.  In general, there are two things you can do to help with this problem.  One is to occasionally get away from the crowds.  Go to a rural area for a day or two, even a few hours will help.  A rural area in the mountains or at sea is the best.  The other thing you can do is work together with others developing their spiritual side.  One person may not be able to break trhough the materialistic barriers in the city, but several working together can.  And once the barriers have been broken, it becomes easier to do it again in the future.