Blog by Gem Fadling

We’re still near the beginning of the new calendar year, and for some people it feels like a fresh start. Most of us are long past making resolutions. We’ve come to see that they don’t last and often result in shame or guilt.

I haven’t made resolutions for years. But I thought it might be good to share with you a few simple ways you could plan for some ongoing soul care. These ideas are bottom-shelf, and that’s good. It’s always wise to begin small and build habits.

Below, I offer an idea for a practice to try within each of your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly rhythms. Begin by choosing one and adding it to your routine. Once it becomes a habit, you can add another as you go along.

My prayer is that these ideas spark something within you toward soulful habits. In the same way we brush our teeth, make our bed, or eat a meal, these practices are routines that can help us to remain open and aware, willing clay in the Potter’s hands.

Daily

Enjoy five minutes of presence. Practicing presence is becoming aware of your mind, body, and heart all in the same place.

Set a timer and simply sit or stand still for five minutes. Yes, your mind will usually race, but it is healthy to train your body and soul to be still, even for a very brief time.

You can place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Feel yourself breathe. Remember that you are a human being, created and nurtured by a loving God.

Breathe deeply and lengthen your exhale. This has the benefit of calming your heart as you rest in God’s presence.

Weekly

Make space for reflection. Think back through the week and ask yourself two questions. You can write in a journal or simply think it through in your mind.

• What was one time you felt good, joyful, or content?
• What was one time you felt resistant, sad, or discontented?

No need to solve anything here. Simply notice these dynamics in your life. Allow a prayer to bubble up from within as you recall the conversations and situations of your week. Hold all of this in God’s presence.

This can take ten minutes or less, or you can make more time if you’d like.

Monthly

Place yourself in receptive mode. This is not a time to conquer anything or strive for something to occur. It’s a “be still and know that I am God” time.

We are often in active mode because, at our best, we are loving and serving others.

But receptive mode is a necessary pattern as well. It helps relieve some pressure and it leans us toward humility. (Believe it or not, the world will still spin if you step back for a bit.)

During this time:

• Begin in silence.
• Receive God’s love and care.
• Open your hands to remind yourself to remain humble.
• Let go of that which holds you back or presses you down.
• Spend time doing what feels life-giving.
• Have a minimal toolkit: Bible, journal, pen, music, spiritual reading.

If it helps, take a walk. I like to move or journal or take myself someplace lovely. It helps to remove yourself from distractions.

Set aside at least one hour. This is a great starting point. If this is already a regular practice for you, you might want a half day. HERE is a great guide to help you engage this time.

Quarterly

Assess your patterns and make adjustments. Be sure to notice your energy levels. Again, you are a human and not a machine. We are seasonal creatures just like flowers and trees.

Make adjustments to your calendar and life without guilt. Here are some questions to help you discern:

• Do I have enough life-giving activities in my life? How might I increase that which is life-giving?
• Where is my energy waning? Can I let go of this activity?
• Do I have enough buffer or recovery time in between engagements?
• What do I need in order to feel healthy—body, mind, and soul?
• What support do I need to make the necessary changes?

Give yourself the gift of this important check-in. Like a tree in an orchard, you need watering, thinning, and resting.

Yearly

Engage a grand examen. Some people enjoy a daily examen, but you can also engage a grand examen by reflecting on the previous year. This is a great way to get an overview of God’s movements within your life on a larger scale.

This is where discernment really gets to shine. We may not know what’s happening in the midst of a particular season, but when we stop and look back, often our eyes and hearts are open to the large brushstrokes of our own formation.

We have created a beautiful guide for engaging a grand examen. You can use it as is, or allow it to spark your own imagination for ways to encounter God in the big picture of your life.

Reflection

• Choose at least one of the practices I mentioned and calendar it for yourself. Even if you want to engage all of these practices, I suggest starting with just one or two and get them rolling first.

I hope one or more of these ideas feels like a good next step for you. Blessings to you as you make your way.

Photo by Ashlyn Ciara on Unsplash