The Importance of Taking the Time for a Spiritual Practice

Emerson’s Eye Painting by Addie Hirschten

There was a time in my life when I dedicated 2-3 hours of each day to a spiritual practice. This practice included journaling, yoga, breathwork, and meditation each morning and breathwork and meditation each night. This dedication and time investment into a spiritual practice was highly instrumental in my healing journey and helped me align with the best version of myself. Fast forward many years into my life with a family, that kind of time is hard to come by. I do not have the time and space to dedicate to that long spiritual practice. Yet, I know the value of it in my life. When I have a daily practice that regulates my nervous system and connects me to something bigger than myself, I am more of the person I want to be, and my life feels better.

Many of us know what we need to do but have difficulty making space for it amidst all the complexities and a life that requires so much of our time, attention, and energy. How do we carve out time in our days to nurture our relationship with ourselves and our relationship with the Divine?

What that looks like for me these days is I get up about an hour before everyone else. I sit on my front porch with my coffee, breathe, meditate, and journal. I set intentions for each day with a variety of prayers, such as:

May I be in alignment with the highest and best good of my life.

May I live my life’s potential.

I surrender to that which I cannot control.

I let go of any and all stress and angst that does not serve me.

I allow God to lead me. I trust in the divine plan for my life.

These are my prayers. You may borrow them if you like or use your own. Connecting with the Divine can take on many forms. Maybe your way of centering in is a walk, painting, or gardening. You may think you don’t have time for these things, whatever they are, but I encourage you to be honest with yourself and take control of your time. Is there something you are doing that is not the best use of your time?

How many hours do you spend scrolling on social media, searching for something that will fill a void you are feeling?

How many hours do you spend time binging on shows?

How many hours do you spend scrolling the news?

How many hours do you worry and fret over things you cannot control?

By being real with yourself with the answers to these questions, you might have more time than you think you do. I encourage you. Take the time to turn your attention inward. The answers you’re looking for are within you. If your attention is always outside of yourself, you aren’t looking in the right place. Take the time to get quiet with yourself. If you are new to a centering inward-focused practice, it may take some time to find something that works for you, but it is worth the time to experiment. Your relationship with yourself and your spiritual life is essential and can make a difference in how you experience yourself and your life.

May you be happy, healthy, and free of what ails you, my friend.

Peace.