Get Your Life Back

1. Pause and Release: The One Minute Pause

I simply take sixty seconds to be still and let everything go.

Reclaim your soul. In our frantic world, the One Minute Pause offers a lifeline to sanity. This simple practice involves taking just 60 seconds to release everything to God. It's a moment to breathe, to let go of burdens, and to create space for God to enter.

How to practice:

• Set aside one minute, several times a day
• Release everything to God, saying "I give everyone and everything to you"
• Ask for more of God: "Jesus, I need more of you; fill me with more of you"

This pause is accessible and sustainable, fitting easily into a busy life. It opens up soul-space and breathing room, training our souls to find God as a common experience rather than a rare one.

2. Practice Benevolent Detachment

Benevolent detachment is your way out.

Lighten your load. Benevolent detachment is the art of letting go with kindness. It's about releasing the world's burdens, our worries, and even people's expectations of us. This practice creates emotional and spiritual space, allowing us to receive more of God.

Steps to benevolent detachment:

• Recognize what you're holding onto (worries, responsibilities, expectations)
• Consciously release these to God
• Practice saying, "I give this to you, God"
• Allow yourself to feel the relief of letting go

By practicing benevolent detachment, we free ourselves from the weight of the world and open ourselves to God's presence and guidance.

3. Embrace Beauty as Soul Nourishment

Beauty comforts. Beauty heals.

Feed your soul. Beauty is not a luxury; it's essential nourishment for our souls. God has filled the world with beauty as a renewable resource for our spiritual well-being. Engaging with beauty can restore, revive, and reconnect us with God.

Ways to embrace beauty:

• Spend time in nature
• Appreciate art and music
• Create something beautiful
• Notice small, everyday beauties

By intentionally seeking and appreciating beauty, we open ourselves to God's goodness and allow our souls to be refreshed and healed.

4. Unplug from Technology's Grip

We live most of our year in suburbia, in a small valley on the edge of our city. Years before suburban development crept in, a convent was established here by the Sisters of St. Francis.

Reclaim your attention. Our constant connectivity is eroding our souls and our ability to connect with God. By unplugging, we create space for deeper experiences and relationships.

Strategies for unplugging:

• Turn off notifications
• Set specific times for checking emails and social media
• Create tech-free zones in your home
• Practice regular digital fasts

Unplugging allows us to be more present in our lives and with God, fostering deeper connections and spiritual growth.

5. Show Kindness to Yourself

Kindness means not expecting perfection in these practices, not requiring yourself to feel anything, being gracious about your heart's slow journey toward God.

Nurture your soul. Self-kindness is often overlooked but is crucial for spiritual health. It involves treating ourselves with the same compassion and understanding we extend to others.

Ways to practice self-kindness:

• Speak to yourself gently
• Allow for imperfection in your spiritual journey
• Give yourself time and space to grow
• Celebrate small victories

By being kind to ourselves, we create an environment where our souls can heal and flourish, making us more receptive to God's love and guidance.

6. Allow for Transitions in Life

Your soul needs transition time. Especially in this world.

Honor life's rhythms. Our souls need time to transition between different activities and phases of life. Rushing from one thing to another without pause can leave us feeling fragmented and disconnected.

Strategies for healthy transitions:

• Build buffer time between activities
• Practice mindfulness during transitions
• Create rituals for major life changes
• Allow yourself to process endings before beginning new things

By allowing for transitions, we give our souls the space to adjust, reflect, and prepare, leading to a more integrated and peaceful life.

7. Reconnect with Nature

Nature heals; nature restores.

Embrace the outdoors. Spending time in nature is not just a luxury; it's essential for our spiritual and emotional well-being. Nature has a unique ability to restore our souls and connect us with God.

Ways to reconnect with nature:

• Take regular walks outdoors
• Spend time gardening
• Sit quietly in a natural setting
• Observe and appreciate wildlife

By intentionally reconnecting with nature, we open ourselves to God's presence in creation and allow our souls to be refreshed and renewed.

8. Remember Who and What You Love

Every moment you have ever been happy, thrilled, comforted, hopeful . . . that was God loving you.

Cultivate gratitude. Remembering the people and things we love helps us reconnect with God's goodness in our lives. It's a practice that can lift our spirits and strengthen our faith.

Practices for remembering:

• Keep a gratitude journal
• Reflect on happy memories
• Spend time with loved ones
• Revisit places that hold special meaning

By actively remembering what we love, we remind ourselves of God's presence and goodness in our lives, fostering a deeper connection with Him.

9. Surrender the Self Life

Benevolent detachment is your way out.

Release control. Surrendering the Self Life means letting go of our need to control everything and instead trusting God. It's about moving from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.

Steps to surrender:

• Recognize areas where you're holding onto control
• Practice daily surrender to God
• Let go of the need to always be right or in charge
• Trust God's plan for your life

By surrendering the Self Life, we create space for God to work in and through us, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

10. Care for Neglected Places in Your Soul

It takes more of you to find more of God.

Heal inner wounds. Our souls often have neglected areas that need care and attention. These might be past hurts, unresolved grief, or unfulfilled dreams.

Ways to care for your soul:

• Practice self-reflection
• Seek professional help if needed
• Engage in creative expression
• Allow yourself to feel and process emotions

By tending to these neglected areas, we become more whole and better able to connect with God and others.

11. Cultivate Belief as a Choice

Belief is something we muster, set ourselves to, and practice.

Choose faith. Belief is not just a feeling; it's a choice we make and a muscle we exercise. By actively choosing to believe, even in difficult times, we strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with God.

Practices for cultivating belief:

• Daily affirmations of faith
• Study and meditate on scripture
• Surround yourself with a community of believers
• Choose to trust God in challenging situations

By treating belief as a choice and a practice, we can develop a more resilient and vibrant faith.

12. Pursue Union with God

We are after union, oneness—where our being and God's Being become intertwined.

Seek deep connection. The ultimate goal of our spiritual journey is union with God—a deep, intimate connection where our lives become intertwined with His.

Steps toward union:

• Practice the presence of God throughout your day
• Cultivate a listening heart through prayer and meditation
• Align your will with God's will
• Seek God in all aspects of life

By pursuing union with God, we fulfill our deepest purpose and find the abundant life He promises.

Last updated: October 31, 2024