How many times have I said that I'm going to simplify my life? Never mind, don't answer that question. It is true that I have attempted this over and over again. Sometimes I've been successful, but then just like a woman who falls off her diet when the holidays arrive, I'm back there again, to the land of distractions, irritability, stress, yada yada yada.
But this Lent I'm getting more specific. I'm following the six steps outlined by Abby Seixas, "Finding the Deep River Within," and I'm starting off with three commitments:
- I am going to be quiet for 20 minutes at the start of each day. This will include my prayer time, when I read the scripture of the day followed by inspiring quotes that help me to keep things in perspective. With any remaining time, I am going to journal ... to write whatever comes into my mind ... in a stream of conscious fashion.
- I am going to take an hour for myself every week. To read more of Abby's book, or one of the inspirational authors that I love (Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, St. Therese, Mother Teresa), or to just sit and do nothing ... absolutely nothing for 60 minutes other than try to get centered.
- I'm limiting all online activity (social networking and e-mailing) to afternoons (after 12 pm) on Monday through Saturday. I'm keeping holy the Sabbath. I love Facebook and other social networking sites, but they are becoming a big source of distraction that I don't need right now, as I try to live against the current of information overload and overproduction.
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forgot to sign my name.just wanted you to know i enjoyed you tips also.
Very cool, Therese!
A few years ago, I realized that just kicking chocolate or whatever didn't really give me the spiritual zazazu I wanted from the season.
So I started putting my spare change in a can at the end of every day of Lent, and then giving it to charity after Easter.
This year my daughter asked if she could get in the act too, so we're doing it together. I told her she could pick the cause and she didn't hesitate. Greenpeace.
I really feel like this is what it's supposed to be about. Making change in the world through devotion.
THANKS I NEEDED THIS MESSAGE I WISH YOU THE BEST THRU YOUR CHANGE THRU LENT....I AM AS WELL GONNA PRACTICE SOME OF THIS....
I can completely relate to your post. When I first read Abby's book, I had tears streaming down my face, as I recognized myself in the stories in her book. As a former perfectionist, her work has encouraged me to love and care for myself, to drop those perfectionist expectations, and to make time for joy in the midst of my neverending to-do list. It has been, first and foremost, a journey of love.
I believe lent is not so much about giving something up -- what can be seen as ascetism -- as much as it is about removing those little soft addictions from our lives; those things we think are meeting our needs but actually keep us from the rich, deep, whole, spiritual life we crave.
When are needs are met, we can grow. It's true in nature; it's true in our own lives. Too many of our daily habits aren't filling our needs, those needs for intimacy, connection, belonging, love and fulfillment. Then we seek out ways to fill them with negative self-care, with sugar, food, shopping, and busyness. But this only leaves us feeling empty and scattered, because it doesn't nourish us at a deep, rooted level --- while also whiling away hours of precious time.
When I love and care for myself, meeting my needs for rest, connection (both with myself, spirit and with others) and stillness, then it's easy to make healthy choices throughout my day, whether it's getting up for a 6 a.m. yoga class or eating nourishing foods. It's a natural, organic process --- the healthiest way for me to make lifestyle changes. It's using love as motivation, rather than fear. It's taking care of myself as a natural act of love, not an act of duty or obligation.
Good luck on your journey.
Sincerely,
Karly Randolph Pitman
First Ourselves
Beautiful and uplifting.
I will embrace the concept of pause_ability, simple deep breaths in gratitiude. Also the refraining of sharing negative or judging in the moment.
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