Daily spirituality is more than just another habit that becomes as mundane as showering or cleaning.
Instead, daily spirituality is a practice or ritual you do to embody a mindfulness in being that should invigorate your life and bring you alive.
It’s a presence of mind in our actions that tethers us to who we really are. (Which is a miracle, let’s be honest.)
Also, these rituals get us beyond egoic, or small, thinking and should ground us in an awareness of the preciousness of existing in every present moment.
Even the most bland of events can take on an extraordinary quality when you fully pay attention to the present moment, mind, body, spirit.
Indeed, from here is where we can truly take in grace, love, and the living truth of our lives.
Maybe you come face-to-face with what you try to avoid.
Maybe you realize you are more than your job or being a parent and learn that a good life is beyond what you achieve or fail to achieve.
This is what a daily spiritual practice can give you: a sense of inspiration and meaning transcending familial and societal measurements.
In this post, we’ll look at how to incorporate daily spiritual practices into our busy lives. Then, we’ll explore what it means to live mindfully, and why that’s beneficial.
First, let’s get started with how to create these daily rituals.
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How To Start a Daily Spirituality Practice
It may feel like a luxury of time to begin a spiritual practice. Busy lives tend to have us going, going, going from wake up to bedtime. Throw in a handheld device constantly flirting for your attention and there you go: no time in the day left for this important self-care.
But something as simple as starting your day quietly alone with a cup of coffee to think and reflect can be a daily spiritual practice.
Or too, and this sounds crude, is keeping a prayer book or a spiritual quotes book in your bathroom. Even when you do-the-duty it can be a simple opportunity for a spiritual practice.
However, if you can take 10-30 minutes per day to meditate, mindfully reflect, or keep a gratitude journal, these rituals will fill your cup of inner well-being on a regular basis.
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They have topical journals lovingly crafted to suite your inner-work needs. Some include dream work, shadow work, or inner child work.
Getting started starts with deciding to do it.
Here’s what you need to do: write when you’ll start a daily practice and what it’ll be, whether it’s yoga, reading, or taking a solo walk. Then, stack that habit until it becomes second hand.
James Clear, habit expert and author, says that even doing 1% of a new habit every day will produce results and give back to you in a positive way.
So baby step (or dive right in if that’s your flavor) your way to prioritizing inner peace, connection, and vitality.
Next, here are some rituals you can choose from to inspire you to live life with this self-nurturing habit. Below that is a section discussing the nuances of what it means to be spiritual and to have mindfulness, so stay tuned.
Examples of Spiritual Practices to Live By
Even atheists can have a spiritual practice. It doesn’t require a belief in God to be spiritual.
What we’re talking about is to wake up everyday to the miracle of life. To wake up to the present moment, to feeling inner peace and the energy that comes with the now, and to nurturing your connection with the larger world.
It’s about finding your purpose in life and getting up each day to live that out.
Thus, whatever your beliefs about God are, you can benefit from daily rituals that get you in-tune with both your present inner self and the larger universe. The following habits or practices are good rituals to help you out:
23 Rituals for Nurturing Deep Inner Connectedness:
- A 20 minute daily meditation or contemplation practice.
- Starting the day alone with coffee or tea and reflecting on life. Begin your day in quietude, savoring a warm beverage while contemplating your life’s journey.
- Spiritual Bath or Shower. Consider a shower or bath as not just a hygiene routine but also a ritual for cleansing the soul. You can use elements like salt, herbs, or essential oils known for their purifying properties.
- A morning walk in solitude. Step outside for a solitary walk to clear your mind and awaken your senses with the fresh morning air.
- A yoga or Tai Chi practice. Engage your body and mind in a harmonizing flow of postures or movements, aiming for inner and outer balance.
- Writing down 10 things your grateful for. Jot down a daily list of things that bring you joy, fostering a mindset of gratitude.
- Keeping a daily life journal/tracking life’s rich moments. Document your experiences, thoughts, and emotions in a journal to capture the nuances of your life journey.
- Reading spiritual literature such as prayers, poetry, or philosophy. Immerse yourself in uplifting texts that explore the depths of human existence and spirituality.
- Praying. Spend time in prayer to connect with a higher power or your inner self, asking for guidance, giving thanks, or simply being still.
- Spending time outside in a garden or nature; observing the natural world. Bask in the outdoors, taking time to notice the beauty of flora and fauna, and connecting with the earth’s energies.
- Spending a few minutes a day star or moon gazing. Look up at the night sky to ponder the mysteries of the universe, feeling both small and yet deeply connected to something greater.
- Taking care of indoor plants as a way to symbolize taking care of yourself. Tend to your indoor plants, nurturing them as a symbolic act of self-care and growth.
- Deep breathing exercises techniques like the 4-7-8 technique (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8) to center yourself
- Practice body scanning by consciously paying attention to different parts of your body.
15. Mantra Chanting: Chanting a spiritual mantra, phrase, or affirmation can help you focus your thoughts and energy. It can be something as simple as “I am at peace” or more traditional like “Om.”
16. Revive your inner child: Do something that wakes up your childlike sense of wonder. Remember the openness with which you viewed the world as a little kid.
17.Random Acts of Kindness: Perform small acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. This may involve helping a stranger or leaving a thoughtful note for someone.
18. Listening to Spiritual or Meditative Music: Music has the power to elevate the soul. Create a playlist of your favorite calming, spiritual, or meditative tunes to listen to during quiet moments.
19. Fasting or Conscious Eating: Practicing intermittent fasting or simply being fully aware when you eat can be spiritual practices. The idea is to treat your body as a temple and be present during nourishment.
20. Visualizations: Spend some time visualizing positive scenes or outcomes, both for yourself and for others. Visualizing can manifest positive energy and outcomes.
21. Engage in Artistic Expression. Whether it’s drawing, painting, dancing, or even just doodling, letting your creative energy flow can be a spiritual practice.
22. Community or Group Prayer/Worship. If you are part of a religious or spiritual community, collective practices can help deepen your sense of spirituality.
23. Digital Detox. Last but not least, consider spending a few minutes or hours without digital devices. Connect with the world in a more direct, spontaneous way.
Finally, it may be helpful to differentiate between spirituality and mindfulness and why it even matters anyway. Let’s take a look.
What is Spirituality and Mindfulness?
Spirituality and mindfulness go hand in hand. One, spirituality, relates to our inner connection to something greater than oneself. This can involve a search for meaning in life.
The other, mindfulness, is bringing our awareness to that connection. Let’s differentiate a bit more.
Spirituality:
Spirituality is often linked to religion. But, it also encompasses personal growth, a concern for peace and social justice, or a deep appreciation for the arts and nature.
It can offer a framework for understanding the world and one’s place in it. Equally important, it provides a set of values and principles by which to live.
Concepts within spirituality may include:
- Belief in a higher power
- Seeking a sense of purpose
- Interconnectedness with others and the universe
- Transcendental experiences
- Living by a moral or ethical code
- Living with awareness of the present moment
Additionally, I have a deeper dive into what it means to be spiritual here:
Mindfulness:
Mindfulness, on the other hand, is the psychological process of purposely bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment. This can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training methods.
What’s more, mindfulness is often used in psychological treatments for conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression. But it is increasingly being employed more broadly for its ability to improve well-being.
Key aspects of mindfulness include:
- Present moment awareness
- Non-judgmental attitude towards yourself and others
- Acceptance of thoughts and feelings; allowing the flow of them without reacting
- Observation of yourself and life around you
So, spirituality involves a broader existential framework and a set of beliefs. Mindfulness is a more practical technique aimed at improving mental well-being or awareness of self in the present moment.
Lastly, both spirituality and mindfulness aim at improving the quality of life, albeit in different ways and through different means. Next, why does it matter so much to have spirituality?
Why Daily Spirituality Matters
It’s easy in life to be a reactionary, auto-pilot human. Most of us are working fulltime while raising a family or are just struggling to get from paycheck to paycheck.
There’s barely time to stop and smell the roses much less cultivate a life that reflects your dreams and desires!
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Doing a daily spiritual practice can buffer out a sense of feeling lost or incomplete in life. It helps you put perspective on what is truly important in life.
This is: who you are in the world, the quality of your character, and having meaningful relationships.
Thus, that anxious voice within that complains life isn’t exactly awesome quells. And this gives you the inner space to sit with it all.
From there, you are able to sense how small changes can improve your day-to-day.
In other words, daily spiritual practices ground you in an inner unshakeableness. It frees you from being reactionary.
Furthermore, it develops your personal character. When you cultivate a healthy spiritual life, you often begin to incorporate the following traits into your overall personality:
- Compassion for self and others
- Lack of reactivity
- Non-judgmentalness or lack of criticizing self and others
- Kindness
- Self-control
- Self-awareness
- Truthfulness
- Generosity of spirit
- More intentionality about relationships
- Healthier boundaries
- Less anger and anxiety
- Willingness to be helpful
In summary, pausing each day to do something which reminds you of your spirituality is fairly simple. Yet, it can help you reap many rewards.
Don’t let life pass you by. Take up a daily spiritual practice and tether yourself to inner peace and knowing who you really are.