Preventative maintenance, if you own a car, or anything mechanical or even a residence, you are probably familiar with term. Preventative maintenance is taking care of something so it will not break down. Oil change on your car, painting your house, maintaining your yard etc are examples of preventative maintenance., but what about yourself?
Do you take care of yourself? No matter how good or expensive a car you have it can't go on forever without some down time and maintenance, and you are no different.
People need down time, real down time, time away from worry, time to clear thoughts, relax and reduce stress. Preventative maintenance of sorts to help us through life.
One way to do this is thru developing 'Spiritual Practices".
What is a spiritual practice?
A spiritual is something that is done with intentionality, regularity and depth.
So what are some examples? W
alking could be one, but not just taking a walk, but perhaps taking an intentional walk, perhaps walking meditation or prayer. Perhaps there is a park with a labyrinth- labyrinths make wonderful places to do walking meditation.
Eating? Well, intentional eating, taking time on a regular basis to eat food slowly and with focus, thinking about what it takes to get the food to your plate, the farmers, the packagers etc. Biting into an orange and tasting the rain and sunshine.
Meditation..yes taking time to be alone and meditate, walking meditation, directed meditation using a prerecorded guided meditation
Prayer, of course, but not saying prayers in a hurry but instead saying them slowly and 'feeling" and experiencing each word, visuallizing the prayer.
These are only a few suggestions, the possibilities are endless. Simply remember Intentional, Regular and with Depth and most any practice can become spiritual.
A good book to help fet started is "Everyday Spiritual Practice" by Rev Scott Alexander. It contains info on developing a Spiritual Practice as well as a compliation of individual stories of people sharing their approaches to Everyday Spiritual Practices.
Blessed be,
Vernon Campbell