Spiritual Rejuvenation

Because there are so many different religions and spiritual practices, spiritual rejuvenation is a difficult thing to generalize. So below are some suggestions. Take what works for you, ignore the rest.

Volunteer – this works for nearly every spiritual belief system, including atheism and agnosticism. Volunteering helps you take your mind off your own troubles by showing you people who have it worse off than you. And, as a bonus, you get the good feelings of helping another person. Sometimes several people. Even if this doesn’t brighten up your soul or rack up some points to help you out at the Pearly Gates (depending on your beliefs), it can give you a sense of self satisfaction and perhaps moral superiority (if you want it). Not over the people you’re helping, of course, but over all those millions of other people who are in a position to help their fellow human, but don’t.

Take a walk outdoors in nature. Not just outside, but out in nature. A walk down main street in a busy city will not do nearly as much for you as walking through the woods or down a country lane or through a meadow or along the shore. You can wonder in the beauty of God’s creation, greet all of the spirits in every rock and tree, or just enjoy the cleaner air and the feeling of space away from the crowds in the urban or shopping areas.

Listen to spiritual or inspirational music. I am pagan, but I was raised Catholic, and I still find the sounds of a choir to be very uplifting, provided they’re in person. On the television or on the radio do not provide the same feeling of joy and spiritual gratitude that accompany a choir in person. Even though I no longer believe what they are singing in the details, we are both worshipping a higher power that created us all, and their joy and worship of that is sharing enough for me to enjoy.

Meditate (or something like it). I find it difficult to relax long enough to make meditation work for me, but I know that it works wonders for others. The basics of it is you quiet your mind and emotions down or at least separate yourself from them a little bit so that you can retouch the inner peace that never leaves you, but that you can’t always feel. Some people achieve this through taking a long hot bubble bath, and others find the same effect in gardening. Whatever it takes for you to still your mind so that your soul can take over for a little bit, that’s what you can do.

Give thanks. Recite your blessings to yourself. Write a long overdue complimentary letter. Tell someone why you appreciate them. However you want to do it, acknowledge the good in your life.

Creation is so much easier when we rejuvenate. Stephen Covey told a story about a person trying to saw down a tree with a dull saw. But he was too busy sawing down the tree to bother with sharpening the saw, even though it would have been easier on him to take that moment and sharpen. Rejuvenation isn’t not doing what’s needed. It’s making you capable of doing what’s needed. You don’t not eat because you don’t have time (not for long). You don’t not breathe or drink or bathe (not for long). You do things to replenish yourself because you have to. You just need to realize that rejuvenating yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is another “have to”. Give yourself permission to rest, and your creation of the Future afterwards will be that much more effective – and fun.