6 Amazing New Year’s Resolutions for your spiritual life
The New Year is upon us and you want to make yourself better. You’re talking and posting about resolutions to lose weight, cut out alcohol, and/or be more organized. These are honorable goals that speak to your physical and emotional health. But what about the spiritual? What about way to improve your soul for the New Year??
What if you attached spiritual resolutions to your life and connected it to a deeper meaning or purpose? What if you set goals for your soul that not only made you better, but helped those around you??
Here are 6 simple, practical ways to improve in the New Year and beyond. With these resolutions, you don’t have to be afraid to fail. The beauty of these resolutions is you can always start anew. Just keep moving and watch your life—and the lives around you—be transformed.
- One word.
What’s the one word that you think best describes your hopes and dreams for the New Year? Create a vision board for that word. Write it or type it in places that you see every day. Think mirror or door. Link it to holy texts and use it as motivation for all that you do and a reminder of your pursuit of purpose.
- 10 minutes.
Simplify your time to connect to the divine by cutting out a task that’s not productive and instead using the time to do something more purposeful. For instance, if you create a watchlist on Netflix, you can save your surfing time for meditation on a key scripture. The time you spend on your commute could also be used for playing encouraging podcasts or audio versions of spiritual books or text. Go a step a further and commit to a time that you can put on your schedule. - Spiritual books.
You can work intentionally on spiritual growth by creating a book list that will help build up your life. You can start by checking out best-selling lists and/or word of mouth. As you build your spiritual library, it becomes a valuable resource for you, your family, and others.
- Volunteer opportunities.
This can be for anything. Many people opt to volunteer at a local pantry or shelter, but discover what works best for your family. Maybe there’s a way to fill gaps in your house of worship or a local religious organization. Maybe there’s even a way to connect your professional talents to the spiritual by addressing someone else’s need. Cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude, and foster the longing in your heart to serve. The giving of your time will not only fill your heart, but someone else’s, too. - Prayer journal.
This doesn’t have to be complex either. It could be as simple as keeping a designated notebook on your nightstand or desk. At any time or whenever you pray or meditate you can jot down the spiritual thoughts or insights swirling inside your mind. Writing them down will help commit them to memory for another time, whether it’s encouraging someone else or yourself. Throughout the year, you can then revisit your journal for more encouragement.
- Spiritual retreat.
If you plan ahead, you can make the time for an annual weekend retreat or pilgrimage. Yes, it might involve some stretch and sacrifice in your schedule and wallet, but it’s worth it. Whether it’s an individual or collective experience, it will enrich your soul, and empower and equip you with new tools for life.