Do you have a daily ritual you use to connect to God or your own version of a higher power? Or do you do anything to revitalize yourself and either start the day or end your day refreshed, in peace and calm?
I have a morning routine I call my Daily Dessert, because it is such a treat for me and hey, a famous French chef coined the phrase “life is short. eat dessert first.”
I start my day by walking, mostly with my dog Monkey. From there I burn some incense or a candle and settle down for prayer
For prayer, I like to practice Lectio Divina and take a sacred or meaningful text that speaks to me and journal about it. Yes, I find my journaling to be a prayer as I think God speaks through my writing to me and helps me sort through things in my life. (If you’re not a journaler, I highly suggest you give it a try. It’s easy and can be life changing.)
I find comfort from the prayers written about by Florence Shinn in her book, The Game of Life and How To Play it.” She wrote about the power of prayer and positive thinking and its ability to manifest needs and wants in your life if done right. She was born in 1870 and was a metaphysics teacher, author and artist in the early 20th Century. One of her prayers goes like this:
“I put this situation in the hands of Infinite Love and Wisdom, if this arrangement is the Divine Plan, I bless it, but if it is not divinely planned, I give thanks that it is now dissolved. I cast this burden on the Christ within and go free.”\
She also wrote, “Today I surrender my goals and plans to the care of the Universe. I offer up my agenda and accept spiritual guidance. I trust that there is a plan far greater than mine. I know that where there was once lack and limitation, there are spiritual solutions and creative ideas. I step back and let love lead the way.
According to Christaine Northrup, MD, author and women’s health advocate, “having a spiritual practice is important to your health, happiness and wholeness. When you put your faith in a high power there is a constant source of healing energy available to you through the Creator (who goes by many different names).”
Here are five ways prayer can help you heal, according to Northrup’s research.
1. It elicits the relaxation response, which can lower blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen consumption. This is all connected to a feeling of lower stress and anxiety.
2. It produces endorphins by increasing the level of oxytocin. People who sing their prayers, like Gospel singers for example, are particularly known to produce endorphins and often feel a sense of elation.
3. It makes you feel gratitude, which has been proven to help with physical healing and wellness while producing more energy and enthusiasm.
4. It invokes the Law of Attraction, which states that having a positive attitude can help you attract the things you want in your life.
5. It helps you cope better. “People who pray tend to have more hope,” according to Northrup. “People who have hope experience fewer episodes of depression and anxiety, and in general are able to cope better with health setbacks and respond better to medical treatments.”
If time, I meditate on the 5 Reiki Principles: They go like this:
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will count my many blessings.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
I like to think of the principles as I do a self-Reiki session, one minute on each of the 7 chakras. (thus 7 minutes a common theme in my book, Facing Life Challenges.) Reiki has become such an important part of my day because I recently became a Reiki Master/Teacher, a goal I have had for a while. If you want to learn more, just let me know.
My Daily Dessert puts me in a positive mood that sticks with me throughout my day. I highly recommend that you find time for solace even if it is only for 7 minutes, an amount of time proven to fit in even the busiest person’s schedule and guaranteed to help you face life challenges.