Hi friend,
In a recent episode on the Cleaning Up the Mental Mess podcast, Dr. Caroline Leaf explores the idea of making your home a haven.
Throughout the episode she speaks of the importance of creating space in your home for days when the world feels like a mess. Leaf says, “it’s important to have a place where you can rest, relax, and feel happy … and there are many ways one can create a joyful atmosphere.”
We believe exploring the soul work of joy means “home” can be wherever you are.
The practice of this takes time and effort, absolutely! But when we pause, and choose to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, actions, and surroundings, we create space for ourselves to breathe, and we’re better able to lift our heads above the noise. In doing so, we cultivate safe senses of “home” wherever we are, and through whatever we’re doing.
Below you will find a thought prompt, a prayer practice, and a couple of joyful applications inviting you “home” — into the spaces and places of your everyday moments, and your right here and now.
-With Joy
For this month’s soul work theme, space, feel free to download a helpful visual illustration for your personal times of praxis.
Pause for Thought
“Home is where one starts from.”
Pause for Prayer
The following prayer was discovered by author Simon Carey Holt, which he found in a book by Len Hjalmarson called, “No Home Like Place.” The following words tell a story of a Benedictine monk who, upon entering his cell as his new “place of home,” prayed this very prayer.
Lord, this is to be home home. May your holy power furnish it in peace and decorate its four walls with holiness so that your sacred presence will also abide here.
Lord, it is not large or grand, but it is to be my living place. May I find within its close quarters, refreshment and your sacred space. May your spirit of prayer be my frequent guest and welcome housemate. May the spirit of praise guide every task and deed performed here.
Lord, this cell will be a place for living, sleeping, praying; it will be a shrine and a place for healing. May my door stand open to all who are in need—as a sign of the posture of my heart. May peace, love, and beauty flow out from this cell of mine in all four directions and up and down. May your silent echo be heard by all of those whose lives surround me.
The birds of the air have nests; foxes have dens; may this cell of mine be blessed by you, my God, as a home for me … and for you as well.
Amen.
Pause for Application
When we create space to feel connected to God, with ourselves, and to our surroundings, we boost our sense of spiritual connectedness, our mental resilience, and our overall sense of emotional wellness. The following simple activities will help you create joyful atmospheres throughout your week (and beyond).
Choose what works for you, and the timing that’s conducive to your life routine and rhythm, but whatever activity you decide, use the above quote from T.S. Eliot as a centering thought prompt while implementing these joyful atmosphere activities.
Invite The Holy into these spaces and places as well.
- Go for a walk and look for something interesting
- Elevate your heart rate, spurring your neural pathways
- Cook a new recipe and savor the smells
- Build a puzzle mindfully
- Play a new game with friends
- Listen to your favorite song on repeat
- Plan a weekend adventure (doesn’t need to be extravagant)
- Try a new coffee shop
- Search “laughing babies” on YouTube (trust us!)
- Read a new book that challenges your way of thinking
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If you would like to share this issue of PAUSE – via text, social media, or email – just copy and paste this link: https://joyover.com/pause/may-24-2023
- Click here for previous month’s art offerings
P.S. No matter where you go, or what you do this week, may you discover beauty in the cracks and in-between spaces of your life, too.
