What beats and rhythms soothe your soul? Blues, jazz, easy listening? Investigating spiritual rhythms to intentionally feed our souls can be a wonderful exploration into living life abundantly. What spiritual rhythms have you explored – prayer and meditation; gratitude, praise and worship; and/or solitude? Let’s take a closer look at each spiritual rhythm to see what beautiful soul music you might make.
Prayer and Meditation
To start the day with prayer and meditation calms your mind, eases your anxieties and sets you on a positive path. You can express to God anything. According to research studies by Dr Richard Davidson, of the University of Wisconsin, prayer and meditation practice can be so healthy.
“Just two months’ practice among rank amateurs led to a systematic change in both the brain as well as the immune system in more positive directions,” .
This is due to the neuroplasticity in our brains which are made to grow and change with repetition and focus. Scriptures also tell us that we can be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 I love how science is revealing what Scriptures have said is truth. He longs to renew us each day.
Thanksgiving, Praise, and Worship
For a second spiritual rhythm, set aside time each day for thanksgiving, praise and worship. Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book , Switch On Your Brain, suggests thanksgiving, praise and worship strengthens your brain’s dendrites and slows down mindless thinking, and focuses on the positive. By slowing down mindless thinking, we have room to live above our circumstances.
This set aside time can be short- three minutes a day as you consider what you are thankful for – home, family, neighbors, place of work or worship or categories, like freedom, health, creativity, ability to learn. As you move to praise, things like rejoicing, blessing, praise, beauty come to mind. Finally for worship, consider the characteristics of God – Almighty, Everlasting, Eternal… or turn on some of your favorite worship music. You Tube can be a great resource for worship music like Beautiful Things by Gungor.
Solitude
For a third spiritual rhythm, have you tried solitude? In the hustle and bustle of life, getting alone by yourself so that your soul can talk to you is challenging. What would happen if you stopped talking, stopped doing and just let yourself be in God’s presence? It’s time to get alone with God in the silence. Get out your calendar and schedule yourself some solitude. Getting the soul to come out can be tricky because it is hard to silence our inner critic. This is normal and we will need to give ourselves grace, gentleness and self-compassion.
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19
Rhythms are meant to give you an order and structure to your day. Which rhythm could be a starting point? Choose one as a starting point. Enjoy incorporating that rhythm into your life and recognize what it does to your perspective. God longs to connect with you. What happens when you reach out to connect with Him? What could be a goal for you to begin your day?
Post your reactions in the comment section below or on the Nancy Booth Coaching page.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.