Your Light

http://www.weeklyspiritualreflections.com – A friend of mine is a busy working Mom. She has 3 kids and is constantly on the go. She is also committed to growing in her spiritual journey and makes time to center and quiet her soul throughout the day. She said that these quiet moments help keep her “sane” and manage the chaotic schedule of a busy family. I asked her what helped her the most, and she said that when things get really stressful, she takes a deep breath and speaks a word or phrase that brings her back to center. For her, the word was “listen.” She said she often uses that word while driving in the car, sitting in traffic or at a stoplight. I told her that the word or phrase was like a code word for bringing her back to center within her soul. For me, I use several code words and phrases: Peace. Breathe. Slow down. Take your time. Be still and know that I am God. I use these code words throughout the day or whenever I am feeling stressed or “out of sorts” with life. I have taken a quick moment to breathe and speak these code words while driving, while shopping, while waiting in a check out line, while sitting in a hectic meeting with co-workers, or while paying bills. I have taken enough time to speak and breathe these words until I feel a moment of calm and centeredness before going back to the stressful moment I am experiencing. Here are a few suggestions to help tend to your soul this week: (These are only suggestions; use what is helpful and ignore the rest) Find a few words or phrases that are meaningful for you, that remind you to pay attention to your soul and to the Spirit dwelling within (they can be common words, passages from Scripture, words from different languages, etc). Find words that remind you of being centered at the core of who you are. Write them down and carry them with you for a few days so that they become automatic when you need to use them during stressful times. When you use these words to help quiet your heart or center your soul, take a deep breath and speak them aloud if possible. Repeat the word or phrase while taking a deep breath as often as possible until you feel you are back to center, even for a brief moment, in the midst of the stress or the chaos that you are experiencing. The goal is to use these code words often so they become a habit in tending to your soul. What are your code words to quiet your soul? What words or phrases help bring you back to center deep within the heart of your being? Courage this day! Read »