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How Important is a Spiritual Practice?
A few months ago, I downloaded the guided meditation app, CALM. I used it consecutively for 4 days, and then, lost interest. This past week, I recommitted, and after 9 days straight, I’m starting to get in the swing of it, and have actually noticed a difference in the way I feel. It’s a relief to get out of the brain chatter and just breathe. How do you find respite?
Illustration by Geoff McFetridge
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12 comments for “How Important is a Spiritual Practice?”
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Actually, meditation is one of those ways. I meditate at least once, usually twice, a day. But thanks to your suggestion, I’ve downloaded calm and will try it. My meditation is more free-form, a combination of mindfulness and mantra (and it’s not an “official” method). I’ve been doing it consistently for almost 18 months now. But the idea of guided meditation interests me. I’ve been feeling very antsy for a couple of months now and maybe I just need some kind of change.
Cooking also brings me respite, sometimes (not lately, though). This is especially true when the weather cools down (less so in summer). And reading a good book, the kind that makes me think, does as well, though it’s less a peaceful respite and more of a “get out of my own mind and into someone else’s” kind.
Let me know what you think of Calm. I like the peaceful watefall sound as backdrop.
As editorial director for a quickly growing startup, I regularly worked 14-hour days while moonlighting as a freelance classical music critic, volunteering on several boards, and maintaining an active social life. Then, I started my own writing, editing and communications consultancy.
It wasn’t unusual for me to enjoy dinner and a couple glasses of wine with friends on a weeknight, only to return home, down an energy drink to fight off fatigue, and work for another few hours…until one night my arm went numb, my heart pounded wildly and I broke out in a profuse sweat. Lying in the ER at 2:30 a.m., staring at a “Body Bags” label on a cabinet near my bed, time stood still.
In a rush of guilt and sudden insight, I realized the many ways in which I’d been out of balance for too long…and it had finally caught up to me in a first-ever panic attack. You might say I’d been scared straight.
I reconnected with the beauty of nature. I adopted a healthy diet and I’ve become a yogi. I make sure to get plenty of sleep without being rudely awakened by an alarm, and I’m writing this article from a standing desk. I learned to say “no”…most important, I now make time for daily meditations, contemplative prayer and spiritual study.
How important is spiritual practice? Very. For me, it’s the most important part of every day.
What a beautiful journey, Sabine. Thanks for sharing it so articulately.
Sabine–that is so powerful. I’m grateful that you chose to share this with the FPS community.
How are you able to fit it all in?
I think spirituality is important because it provides some relief from the material world and provides a sense that there is a natural cycle to one’s life that is a great equalizer. The core message of most faith traditions is that we all came from the same source and we will return to that source. There is peace in that. The goal of modern life is to be “happy” through the pursuit of pleasure. Commercial marketing and romantic comedies and Disney movies tell us to strive for happiness that will come at some undetermined time in the future. That is not realistic. Spirituality doesn’t promise happiness, after all life is full of highs and lows, but it can provide a deep sense of peace right now in the present.
You’re inspiring me, Leyla.
Ooh this app looks good. I’ve done a little meditation but never been able to stick with it. It definitely helped though with calming the “brain chatter” while I was doing it but never found anything consistently good enough that I’d stick with it. Would love to reach a point where I do it without guidance.
I’ve never been able to meditate before, so this has been a useful tool for me.
Just downloaded app and shared with my co-workers. This made falling asleep super easy after my 12 hour night shift, when I’m usually wired from the day’s err night’s events. I’ve used Deepak Chopra’s apps in the past but I’m always game for a new voice.
That’s great, Lauren. Keep us posted.