Spend Time with What Uplifts

Spend time with what uplifts you, not what brings you down. Granted, some of the latter things are out of our control, like a virulent virus or economic depression. Other things we may choose either to seek or avoid, from the love of others to good food, from the lofty cadence of spiritual words, to the elevating strains of beautiful music.

In these troubling times, ask yourself what uplifts you, and what brings you down. These are among the things which uplift me daily, guarding my heart and grounding my peace:

– Prayer and meditation: Too few realize how uplifting it can be to daily let go and let God, to turn to the Absolute in accordance with your understanding and tradition.

– Devotional literature: Whether you turn to Scriptures or inspirational writing, it is as food for the soul to ingest the guiding, calming wisdom of others. Nothing can heal or bring greater assurance than the right word at the right time.

– Loved ones and friends: Others can of course bring down as well as uplift. Yet as the poet teaches, it is only that which has given you joy which brings you sorrow; you cannot have the one without the other. Such is the nature of the cyclical seasons of life.

– Music of the soul: Whatever music speaks to your soul, listen to that every day. For me that is classical music, especially the piano and the violin. I crave its beauty daily. Life is meant to be lived with background music, almost like a Broadway musical.

– Doing good for others: There is no better “anti-downer” than doing something good for another. As love is not love until it is given away, just so joy is not fully joy until it is shared.

– Writing and speaking words of and from the heart: A burden that cannot be shared cannot be lifted. Giving voice to what is within you offers release to your soul. We are beings of language. Only through language can you unfurl your hidden wings.

– Books and reading: Books offer an entire world in which to live and move and have your being, even for a time. Expand your mind with good books.

– Food and drink: More than ingest to live, you need to live to ingest! Appreciate the gifts of food and drink. Cooking can be a great adventure. Our family’s motto: “Eat, eat, you’ll feel better!”

– Nature and pets: From pets to oak trees, lakes to oceans, cut flowers to fresh vegetables, I cannot get enough of the uplifting beauty of God’s wondrous creation. Walking along a California beach is one of my frequent pleasures, offering exercise for my soul well as my body.

– Humor: A day without laughter is a down day. When I don’t get enough laughter, I begin to feel stuck, earthbound, mired in the mud of self-concern.

– Play: If you cannot play, you cannot love fully, nor can you become as children, which is essential to maintain spontaneity and freedom. You need exercise to know peace of soul and an expansive sense of physical well-being. Body and soul are together in the need for play.

– Entertainment: Good movies, television and plays, though harder to find these days, provide an alternative universe to enter and enjoy. The stories of others can encourage and strengthen you on your way. The older I get the more I realize that my whole life is really a continuous play, replete with tears and laughter. Truth is, we all have our entertaining stories.