10 Ways to Kickstart A Daily Spiritual Practice
We all crave more peace, less anxiety, and definitely less stress.
One of the best ways to do this is to have some kind of daily contemplative practice. Think about this as a time to simply be with you. To touch base with the wise, all knowing self that resides deep within you.
A spiritual practice is something you give yourself so it should feel exciting and fun and definitely NOT like a chore. It’s not another “have-to.”
I often think about this time as refuge – a state I can enter where the craziness of the world is far away- where there is only peace and a sense of calm.
Craving more peace in your life? Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
We all crave more peace, less anxiety, and definitely less stress.
One of the best ways to do this is to have some kind of daily contemplative practice. Think about this as a time to simply be with you. To touch base with the wise, all knowing self that resides deep within you.
A spiritual practice is something you give yourself so it should feel exciting and fun and definitely NOT like a chore. It’s not another “have-to.”
I often think about this time as refuge – a state I can enter where the craziness of the world is far away- where there is only peace and a sense of calm.
Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
1. Prayer
If you’ve grown up with any kind of formal religion, you know what prayers sound like. But a prayer doesn’t have to be religious. It’s really a call from your heart out into the world.
My prayers are usually for people who are suffering as well as for the planet. But a super terrific prayer to start everyday is one I’ve mentioned before from A Course in Miracles, it says,
What would you have me do today?
Where would you have me go?
What would you have me say and to whom?
2. Affirmation
Starting your day with an affirmation or a list of them is a really powerful practice. You are speaking aloud what you want to manifest in your life. An affirmation can be general or specific.
I consider Louise Hay to be the queen of affirmations. Here is a great video with her sharing about affirmations.
3. Meditation
Meditation has literally transformed my life. I cannot imagine not doing this everyday BUT I do know how hard and scary it can be to start.
And I will admit, that even now, 20 years later, sometimes when I meditate, my thoughts don’t stop leaping around. As you begin or deepen your own time in meditation, remember that it is a practice. It isn’t about perfection.
If you want to start with a guided meditation or visualization, hop onto Insight Timer and have fun exploring not only my meditations but the hundreds of other ones!
4. To Be List
One of my favorite spiritual teachers, Dr. Robert Holden offers this suggestion. Rather than having a To DO list, have a To BE list. Isn’t this a great idea!
How do you want to be today?
- Loving
- Kind
- Generous
- Patient
5. Journal
I have many friends who begin each day writing in their journals. They are literally writing their lives into existence. If this sounds intriguing, get yourself a special notebook, decide your spot and commit to writing – for 5, 10, 20 minutes, whatever it is for you. There’s something transformational that happens when we put pen to paper.
6. Contemplative Walk
Walking is both meditative and aerobic. Obviously the best places to do these walks is somewhere pretty or serene – such as a park, along the water or in the woods. But you can have a contemplative walk not in nature too. Even on the treadmill. Plug in some soothing music and allow yourself to move.
7. Singing
I recently attended an earth honoring circle where a few women were inspired to sing. If singing helps you connect with your heart space, this might be the practice for you. Find some honoring, uplifting music that speaks to your higher self and belt it out! I am a big fan of kirtan, a form of Sanskrit chanting and love singing those songs.
8. Inspirational Video
If multi-media is more your thing, you may enjoy a video that connects you. One of my absolute favorites is Louie Schwartzberg’s one on gratitude.
9. Yoga Asana
Another way to ease into the day is through yoga, and doing a repetitive asana. One of the most common is the Sun Salutation, which is a series of simple moves designed to help awaken the body.
I have suffered from sciatica for 20+ years and discovered that doing the sun salutation every morning actually kept me pain free. So this is a daily part of my practice. See it performed here.
10. Start Your Day
Okay, I admit it, I hate getting out of bed. And I can be pretty grouchy in the morning. For over 10 years, my husband has lovingly reminded me that how you start your day is how you live your day.
So instead of groaning about getting up, how can you greet your day?
How would you like this day to be for you? Rewarding, satisfying, fulfilling, peaceful?
Whether you choose one of the above or a number of these, deepening your relationship to yourself is what a spiritual practice is all about. Decide what feels right for you and how you want to support yourself in your own evolution. That's what life is all about!
As always, don't be a stranger. Let me know what works for you!
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The Power of Presence: Daily Mindfulness
We hear a lot about being mindful not just within spiritual circles but more and more in the work place.
What exactly is mindfulness?
Mindfulness stated simply is awareness of the present or the ability to be present in all aspects of our lives.
It’s a honing of the mind to focus on what is happening right now.
Since the 1970s, there’s been a growing recognition and movement towards embracing mindfulness.
This is due in large part to the many Buddhists teachers who have come to the United States over the past few decades as well as the American practitioner, Jon Kabat-Zinn, who began teaching mindfulness courses in 1979.
The first time I recognized mindfulness occurring in my life was shortly after I met my first husband. He’s from Bali and since he's Hindu, learned meditation at a young age.
Part of what had attracted me to him in the first place was his calm demeanor and indefatigable kindness.
The day I noticed his mindfulness in action, we were in Indonesia visiting his family.
There's a lot of talk about mindfulness not just within spiritual circles but more and more in the work place.
What exactly is mindfulness?
Mindfulness stated simply is awareness of the present or the ability to be present in all aspects of our lives.
It’s a honing of the mind to focus on what's happening right now.
Since the 1970s, there’s been a growing recognition and movement towards embracing mindfulness in the United States.
This is due in large part to the many Buddhists teachers who have come here over the past few decades as well as the American practitioner, Jon Kabat-Zinn, who began teaching mindfulness courses in 1979.
The first time I recognized mindfulness occurring in my life was shortly after I met my first husband. He’s from Bali and since he's Hindu, learned meditation at a young age.
Part of what had attracted me to him in the first place was his calm demeanor and indefatigable kindness.
The day I noticed his mindfulness in action, we were in Indonesia visiting his family.
We’d rented a van to take his extended family on a picnic in the mountains. I looked over at him and suddenly realized that the only thing he was doing in that moment was driving.
He wasn’t thinking about the party last night.
He wasn’t going over the stuff he’d packed, making sure he’d remembered everything.
Nor was he distracted by the conversation in the back seat.
He was just driving, focusing on the vehicle, and the road ahead. He was 100% present in that moment to his task- present and focused.
I resolved then that I wanted to develop this quality.
And I discovered that mindfulness is achieved through meditation and the internal gardening of our thoughts.
Here’s what’s helped me develop a practice of mindfulness:
1. Meditation
I started meditating 20 years ago. I still meditate today because it feels so good to release the stress of the world. It helps me remember that there is more going on than the chaos that circles around me.
I sit in silent meditation because it provides me with solace and connecting to infinite source feeds me. I meditate to remember my essential nature. Finally, I sit to bring myself into the now and that helps me bring the silence, serenity and clarity into my working day.
2. Mining the Mind
I like to think of myself as a gardener of my mind. I pluck out all the thoughts that distract me or are taking me out of the present moment.
I also pull out the thoughts (like weeds) that are harmful to me or remind me of old stories and ancient beliefs about limitation and lack that are no longer true for me.
3. Coming Fully Into My Body
Being grounded in my physical body helps me experience the here and now.
I can feel where I am- the sun on my face, the wind whipping around me. I see where I am- the trees bordering the road, the faces of people walking by. I hear the world around me- the birds chirping, the trucks rumbling, children laughing.
Being in my body allows me to fully experience life.
Life is only happening right now, in this moment.
When we leave the moment by getting distracted by our thoughts, we lose the opportunity to experience what it feels to really be alive. We can easily get caught fixating about a past hurt or worrying about a future concern.
But when we can bring our focus back to this moment, we have the opportunity to heal.
Consider starting your mindfulness practice today.
Find a comfortable spot in your home where you can sit for just five minutes in the morning. Focus on your breath coming in and out.
I like to count to 11. Inhaling 1, exhaling 2 until I get to 11 and then starting over.
If you lose track, start over at 1. Before you know it, your timer will be ringing. You’ll be surprised at how quickly 5 minutes flies by!
As you commit to this daily practice of meditation, it will help you be able to listen to your mind and hear the way you speak to yourself.
Then you can decide what thoughts you want to keep and ones that need to be pulled out. And it will help you experience a greater sense of presence in your body.