Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann

    I try to go to Mass every Sunday. This year though I am going to an Advent event at the Cathedral in Providence. I am looking forward to it.
    I also belong to an online spiritual family support group for families dealing with Addiction

    4 months ago
  2. Linda

    By being kind to others.

    4 months ago
  3. pkr

    Meditation, reading scripture, prayer, walking, Mother Nature, practicing yoga, listening to music….mindfulness. I feel like the majority of my life these days is about growing my “spirit”, my soul.
    And this site enriches my spiritual life greatly. I have gained so much knowledge here from all of You. Thank you kindly.✨❤️🙏🏻

    4 months ago
  4. Diane

    I am grateful to have been led to draw from varied spiritual traditions in order to nurture myself spiritually. I am particularly drawn to Celtic and Native American spirituality, which both embrace and practice a connection to the Divine through nature. Each morning my day begins with prayer and meditation, visiting this site, reading from a variety of authors in my “spiritual library”
    (J. Phillip Newell, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, Mirabai Starr, Rumi, Pema Chodron, Gunilla Norris, Steven Charleston, Anne Lamott…just to name a few!) I love rituals and employ them often. For example, I created an “Earth Altar” when my sister died. I found this ritual right here on this website and it was such a gift.
    Prayer walks.
    Occasionally, as the spirit moves me, I go to weekday mass to honor my Catholic roots.
    I recently began trauma therapy and have been introduced to Tara Brach who is helping me on my healing journey.

    ~Happy Thanksgiving everyone and thank you for enriching my spiritual life with your wise, heartfelt, courageous, authentic sharing here. 🙏

    4 months ago
    1. Yram

      Those spiritual writers are also part of my journey, too. Thanks for mentioning them.

      4 months ago
  5. a
    asterion

    Honestly, I dont nurture that aspect of my life enough. I want to grow deeper in my spirituality but I have such conflicting feelings about my religion at times I feel like I’m not in the best place to explore it. I want to start little by little to define what spirituality means to me and to create a way of nurturing it that is all my own.

    4 months ago
    1. Diane

      Asterion….I’ve been there when it comes to “religion” I’ve learned that I don’t have to be attached to any religious organization in order to be a spiritual person. I had to walk softly, exploring tentatively with curiosity and an open heart. “Little by little” as you said. Be kind and patient with yourself as you venture out on the spiritual path….you will find the way that works for you.
      ~Blessings on your journey 🙏

      4 months ago
  6. A
    ActiveD5

    I feed my spiritual life by attending church weekly in person. I also watch my sister preach and the second service online during the week. I belong to two Connect groups at church and I listen to Christian music 80% of the time.

    4 months ago
  7. Yram

    This site. Readings from spiritual leaders. Gatherings with others who are seekers. Taking quiet time. Connecting with a being bigger than me.

    4 months ago
  8. Charlie T

    The things that I do to nurture my
    spiritually (reading, a bit of writing,
    contemplation, meditation, talking and
    listening to others, and being present,
    etc…) are really just the things that I am
    doing as a result of trying to be more
    intentional and identifying and turning
    off the distractions in my life.
    There is so much out there to absorb.
    All I want to do is soak it up.
    Yesterday, I watched a video compilation
    of Jim Carry speaking about spirituality,
    and I am struck by his spiritual depth
    and the fact that once again, it’s the
    clowns, the jokers, and the humorists,
    revealing some truths and holding up
    the mirror to see ourselves as we truly are.

    4 months ago
    1. Michele

      Your reflection makes me think of Matthew Perry – same thing, how he did not want to be remembered only by ‘Friends’ but that he helped people with addiction.

      4 months ago
  9. Carol

    How I treat myself physically, mentally and emotionally is important because none of these things can be separated from my spiritual life. Everything belongs and everything matters. I try to remember to make everything I do a prayer. I do my best to be mindful instead of mind-filled. I’ve learned that it’s important to pay attention to what I’m telling myself because so much of the time my thoughts take me into the past I can’t change or I find myself worrying about a future I can only influence by being present NOW. I try to journal daily; I look forward to sharing with the gratefulness.org Daily Question community and gain so much help and self-awareness from the sharing of others on the site. I am committed to taking a daily walk and having quiet time each day to reflect. I apply Toltec Wisdom to my daily life…I’ve found “The Four Agreements” presented in Don Miguel Ruiz’s book a good guide for keeping my mental and emotional life healthy. They are:
    1. Be impeccable with your word: Speak with integrity; say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

    2. Don’t take anything personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

    3. Don’t make assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

    4. Always do your best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

    These four agreements are basically a common sense contract I’ve made with myself…a commitment to know myself…to become a witness to how I operate; and to consciously choose to respond not react to whatever arises in my day to day life.

    I’ve found they lead me to both self compassion and compassion for others because they require me to own my thoughts, my feelings and my actions.

    4 months ago
    1. Michele

      Thank you Carol, I just bought ‘The Four Agreements’ and I have bookmarked Tara Brach as she is mentioned numerous times as well.

      4 months ago
    2. Joseph McCann

      I especially like # two Don’t take anything personally, Carol. I have said I am a bit like a duck. I let many things roll off my back like water on a duck’s back.

      4 months ago
    3. pkr

      Carol, thank you for mentioning the Four Agreements. This is one of my favorite “spiritual” guides. I love this book. I have re-read it numerous times. I often have to remind myself of its tenets especially in “sticky” situations. The “don’t take anything personally” is a hard one.
      Thank you for your honest sharing on this site. You are very wise.
      Happy Thanksgiving…Blessings to You.✨❤️🙏🏻

      4 months ago
    4. Diane

      Carol….serendipity once again for me. Years ago I purchased The Four Agreements and after I was done, I passed it on to a friend. Lately, I found that I was being called back to this amazing little book. So I ordered 3 copies from our local independent book store…one for me and one for both of my daughters as a Christmas present. My copy is sitting in my meditation room waiting for me to dive in….thanks for the nudge!

      4 months ago
      1. Pilgrim

        Dear Diane, I have pretty much lost track of what day of the week it is. I’m glad I saw your post just now! Since my fall, I am really rather out of the mainstream, I think. I almost never go outside, unless absolutely necessary.
        I hope that all is well with you, my friend. If you will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, may you have a good gathering! (My family goes to others during Thanksgiving, so any “celebrating” is up to me.) Many blessings to you and yours.

        4 months ago
        1. Diane

          Happy Thanksgiving to you as well my friend. Ours will be very quiet also…our older daughter and son-in-law will be with his (very large!) family on Thursday. We were invited but decided we wanted a quieter day, so our younger daughter will join us and we plan on Chinese food and a movie! Friday my older daughter will bring us leftovers and we will celebrate again!
          Have a peace-filled day 🙏

          ps. I left you a message earlier in response to your posting below!

          4 months ago
    5. A
      ActiveD5

      Love the four agreements. I have them printed on my bulletin board

      4 months ago
  10. Nannette

    Coming to this site daily…Sitting alone in the quiet and speaking to God , Praying for others.

    4 months ago
  11. Susan

    I nurture my spiritual life when I meditate, alone or with others, and spend time in nature. Also, spending time with my dogs, cats, and chickens. I have many chants in my music library and I chant while I walk, prepare meals and quilt.

    4 months ago
    1. Nannette

      Sounds lovely, Susan!!

      4 months ago
  12. sunnypatti

    Pray, meditate, get outside, do some yoga.

    4 months ago
  13. Ngoc Nguyen

    There are two ways I nurture my spiritual life: Opening Soothing Pod app on my iPhone, hit the Meditate section, play a guideline, and enjoy breathing exercise in relaxing music. Amen app is another way that I am using as a Catholic follower. My favorite section in Amen app is Catholic Sprouts, a daily podcast for kids. When I listen to it, my mind is released from pressure and a sense of I am back to being a kid. How comfortable!

    4 months ago
    1. S
      Ana Maria

      How lovely! Thank you for the app’s name! I will look it up and explore. Keep having fun!

      4 months ago
  14. Michele

    visiting this website
    being out in nature

    4 months ago
  15. Laura

    Meditation, prayer, reading and quiet help me step out of daily busyness and into Life.

    4 months ago
    1. Carol

      Laura, Your reply makes me think of a dear friend from India who always told me that we all have to get on the merry-go-round (daily busyness) to get the necessary chores done but we should not live there. They facilitate life but they are not Life.

      4 months ago
      1. Barb C

        Offering a different perspective: I recognize some parts of what we do are things that we feel like we just need to get through, but if we treat much of our life as getting in the way of “real life” then we’re missing much of what we’re actually living day to day.

        4 months ago
        1. Laura

          I see your point, Barb. I tend to associate busyness with mindlessness. I get so wrapped up in working through a to do list that I fail to see beyond the next task. In that state of mind, I forget that small things done with love and intention can make a difference and form much of Life.

          4 months ago
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