With our lives so busy and no end in sight, it’s not always easy to be available for the important things in our lives. Job, family, and social obligation all eat away at our available time – and there never seems to be enough time for everything. As a result, we find ourselves making decisions about how we spend our time that aren’t always good for us.
The problem? It’s hard to prioritize when there’s so much pulling at your attention – text messages, news broadcasts and newspapers, podcasts, radio shows, television, education, on and on and on! How do you know what’s truly important, and what to prioritize?
Oddly enough, the one thing you need most to help guide your steps in the rest of your life is the one most frequently neglected: Your personal spirituality – the path you choose to follow toward the life you want to create and manifest.
The exploration of your inner self is what should be your guiding star. Spirituality gives you peace and purpose, drive, and direction. Without it, you’re just wandering in circles, trying to make the best of a life without true direction.
How can you add spirituality into an already busy schedule? Try one or more of these ideas:
Idea 1: Intentional Breathing
How are you breathing? Checking in with yourself regularly is essential. When we’re stressed or impatient, our breathing becomes shallow and erratic, robbing us of much-needed oxygen and increasing our stress levels.
Instead, take nice slow, deep breaths. Picture yourself breathing in peace, and breathing out stress, worry, and everything unpleasant. Dedicate a few minutes each day to these breathing exercises.
Idea 2: Go Barefoot, Touch the Earth
There is an energy that comes from nature that we can’t get anywhere else. By walking
barefoot in the grass, we connect to the earth in ways science can’t explain, though they’ve documented the benefits over and over. There are articles online on how to grow your own grass indoors for apartment dwellers, and that idea could also work for a homeowner without much of a yard.
Also, visiting green spaces and experiencing nature even in small ways, and spending time outdoors all can have an incredibly positive impact on the spiritual aspects of your life. If there’s a botanical garden near you, consider an occasional visit to be exposed to green space.
Idea 3: Drink More Water
Hydration is important to good health, but water does more than just keep things running. It also flushes out those toxins that leave you feeling draggy and tired. You can’t embrace the spiritual if you’re not able to concentrate well.
If you don’t have decent quality water in your community, consider a filtering pitcher or other method to improve your water quality in your home.
Idea 4: Bask in Sunlight
In the first hour or last hour of the day where the sun is rising or setting is one of the best times to get outside and soak up some rays, along with the energy coming from them. Also, you’ll be amazed at what this does for your energy levels and ability to concentrate. You can do this during almost any season of the year – remember to dress for your environment!
Idea 5: Listen to Better Music
If the message in your music is negative, expect your mood likewise to be dark. If you want to tap into the positive, and experience good vibes, change your music (and movies, and other entertainment) to a more enlightening type. This slight change will leave you feeling better and more positive about the world in general. There is positive music to be found in every genre – from rock-n-roll to r-and-b to country-and-western, show tunes, classical symphonies, jazz, and beyond.
None of these tasks should take a lot of time (though you might find you enjoy them and want to dedicate more of your day to the ones that impact you deeply). Start with taking just one or two and adding them into your daily routine.
Give yourself the gift of time to write in your journal after your experience and notice what has the most positive effects on your mood. Be available for the activities that work the best for you and your schedule. Experience the difference that intentional exposure to simple ways of boosting your spirituality can accomplish.
You’ll be surprised at how big of a difference this makes, and how different you’ll feel after 21 to 28 days of consistent practice.
