Sources of Spiritual Strength

Newsletter November 11th, 2024 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

For a long time, I’ve said that therapy is a lot like prayer. That’s because, like therapy, prayer inspires introspection, analysis, exploration of feelings, hopes, and, eventually, growth and gratitude. The only difference is that therapy is prayer but also out-loud and to another person. Both have long been practices used for spiritual health and wellness. 

But prayer and therapy aren't the only tools in our knapsack to help us come to a place of wellness in times of stress or crisis. As a chaplain at UCLA Medical Center 20 years ago, I also learned to help people identify other sources of strength. 

And, in a recent Keeping It Sacred discussion, we shared what was keeping us strong in life—  we generated quite a list! Many stemmed from our Jewish tradition. Some were strategies that felt more secular, and some were a mixture of both. So, what’s keeping us strong? 

Nature, family, gathering, meditation, prayer, writing, art, exercise, hugs, gathering together, having a cup of tea, publicizing suicide hotlines, letting people know you are a safe person to talk to, knowing we are with each other, feeling strength of resilience in our history, being in the moment, keeping open to what we might do to help, continuing to live our values, being well rested, voicing to family and friends where we are emotionally right now, drawing and art, writing poetry, expressing gratitude, creating beauty in the world, tapping into the Jewish value of hope/tikvah, keeping the conversation going, living well, having connection, turning to Jewish texts, feeling and manifesting our own resilience, compartmentalizing, holding babies.

Along with the practice of prayer, and therapy, this is a great list that we can lean on in hard times. To give us the feeling of rejuvenation. Refreshment. Realignment. And a re-centering. 

And I will add the practice of gathering in community can give us great spiritual uplift as well. Especially if music is involved. It helps remind us that we are not alone. Even if we are sitting here alone. Remember: I am not alone. You are not alone. Your Keeping It Sacred community is here for you. And, as a song to remind you, please appreciate this beautiful song by Jewish musician Aly Halpert called, "I’m not alone." 

As we come to the the cold, dark winter months (for those of us in the northern hemisphere), and really any time of year, it is important to lean on these spiritual supports for strength. 

And if you'd like to gather with us, please read the many opportunities to do just that in the entries of our newsletter below.

This is how we’re #keepingitsacred...

Together we’re keeping it sacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...