What Does the World Owe You?<\\/strong><\\/h3>\\n This short piece comes from Seth Godin\\u2019s Blog<\\/em> and is a trick question of sorts. The answer of course: the world owes you nothing! While Godin<\\/a> is better known for his not so common-sense approach to business, he often offers advice than transcends the business arena.<\\/p>\\n "\\n*** *\* Asking what the world owes you \\u2026 is a trap. It\\u2019s based on scarcity and entitlement, and most of all, the world isn\\u2019t listening. When more and more people focus on this question, it simply pushes us apart.<\\/p>\\n *\* On the other hand, asking \\u201cwhat do I owe the world?\\u201d opens the door for endless opportunity. When lots of people ask this question, the contributions add up, the connections are solidified and better is possible.<\\/p>\\n *\* ***The best part is that waiting for the world to get things just right is exhausting and frustrating, while taking responsibility for what you might be able to contribute can be energizing and fun.<\\/p>\\n<\\/blockquote>\\n To Start Working on Mindfulness, Take These 3 Steps.<\\/strong><\\/h3>\\n I signed up for Arnold Schwarzenegger<\\/a>\\u2019s Pump It Up <\\/em>email newsletter to pick up the occasional fitness tip but find I use it more for tips about life, aka life hacks. Credit goes not just to Arnold, but a team of astute writers. Here\\u2019s one I recently appreciated about mindfulness, valuable advice we all can use.<\\/p>\\n " If you want to start working on mindfulness, here are three tips that can help.<\\/p>\\n 1. During stressful times, take on the role of the observer. Don\\u2019t judge your thoughts or feelings. Try to observe what is happening to you objectively.\\u00a0Often, it\\u2019s not what you feel that causes stress \\u2014 it\\u2019s your own harsh judgment.<\\/p>\\n 2. Remind yourself that all stress isn\\u2019t bad. Perceiving stress as harmful to your health can do more damage than the stress itself.<\\/p>\\n 3. If you feel stress increasing, take action. Set aside 10 minutes and focus on calming your mind. You can do this by listening to a guided meditation or silently repeating a word or phrase you choose. If outside thoughts\\u00a0interfere, don\\u2019t\\u00a0fight them. Listen and observe without judgment, and then return to the meditation or phrase. A vital part of mindfulness\\u2019s effectiveness is making time for yourself rather than constantly fighting stress or feeling rushed.<\\/p><\\/blockquote>\\n Try a Prayer Without Words<\\/strong><\\/h3>\\n I get a weekly recap from Richard Rohr<\\/a>\\u2019s Daily Meditations<\\/em> newsletter at the Center for Action and Contemplation. It\\u2019s a compilation of meditations from the week and I usually find a quote or exercise I find compelling. The edited passage below comes from author and Episcopal priest Barbara Cawthorne Crafton. It\\u2019s about how during times when words fail us, we can turn to wordless prayer to help sustain us.<\\/p>\\n " God is not a figure outside of our experience and does need much information from us. We\\u2019re not in charge of much of what happens in the world. We don\\u2019t really need to pray about anything we need; we can content ourselves with prayer from within it all.<\\/p>\\n Here\\u2019s a suggestion: Maybe we could try not using words at all.<\\/p>\\n This spiritual practice will\\u00a0allow\\u00a0you your emptiness, rather than fight to fill it. An example is the ancient practice of centering prayer; the quiet, gentle abdication of all your illusions of personal power and control. This prayer is not measured by the quality or quantity of emotion it produces. It doesn\\u2019t have to be measured at all.<\\/p><\\/blockquote>\\n 11 Rules from Every Self-Help Book Ever<\\/strong><\\/h3>\\n Tim Ferriss once called Kevin Kelly<\\/a> the most interesting man in the world and ever since then I\\u2019ve been tracking his weekly email newsletter Recomendo<\\/em>. The rules that follow were actually from an article first published on the website Mashable. It boiled hundreds of self-help bestsellers to 11 simple rules. I\\u2019ve added a little clarification, as needed.<\\/p>\\n " 1.\\u00a0Take one small step.<\\/strong>\\u00a0As Aristotle said, \\u201cwe are what we repeatedly do.\\u201d Take one step. When ready, repeat.<\\/p>\\n 2.\\u00a0Change your mental maps<\\/strong>.\\u00a0 Before can you achieve it, you\\u2019ve got to believe it.<\\/p>\\n 3.\\u00a0Struggle is good. Scary is good<\\/strong>.\\u00a0As Eleanor Roosevelt said, \\u201cdo the thing you think you cannot do.\\u201d<\\/p>\\n 4.\\u00a0Instant judgment is bad<\\/strong>.\\u00a0Take a deep breath and count to 10 before reacting to anything.<\\/p>\\n 5.\\u00a0Remember the end of your life<\\/strong>.\\u00a0As Socrates said, memento mori. Life comes to an end, and we have no idea when.<\\/p>\\n 6.\\u00a0Be playful.<\\/strong>\\u00a0No matter how difficult life may get. Difficult times pass.<\\/p>\\n 7.\\u00a0Be useful to others<\\/strong>.\\u00a0Find the thing that you have to contribute.<\\/p>\\n 8.\\u00a0Perfectionism = procrastination<\\/strong>.\\u00a0Rarely is anything perfect. Just do it.<\\/p>\\n 9.\\u00a0Sleep, exercise, eat (healthily), chill out. Repeat.\\u00a0<\\/strong>Check each box each day.<\\/p>\\n 10.\\u00a0Write it all down.<\\/strong>\\u00a0Make a list of what you\\u2019re going to do today. What you want to do in the future\\u2014and don\\u2019t forget to write down what you\\u2019re thankful for.<\\/p>\\n 11.\\u00a0You can\\u2019t get it all from reading.<\\/strong> There\\u2019s no experience for life. Talk to those you know, admire, and trust.<\\/p><\\/blockquote>\\n You\\u2019ll find over 100 spiritually uplifting stories in my book Wake Up Call: Daily Insights for the Spiritually Curious<\\/a>.<\\/em><\\/p>\\n<\\/body><\\/html>\\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I read a lot of spirituality books and articles and sometimes stumble upon stories that don\\u2019t merit a full column\\u2014but have messages worth repeating. Each of these \\u201ctidbits\\u201d has an important insight (or insights) to offer, ideas that may have you thinking long after you read them. Here are four of my recent favorites, with \[…\]<\\/p>\\n","protected":false},"author":1184,"featured\_media":11079,"comment\_status":"open","ping\_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":\[1203,541,1499,1940\],"tags":\[\],"class\_list":\["post-11070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-hacks","category-life-tips","category-spiritual-guidance","category-spiritual-living"\],"yoast\_head":"\\n4 Nourishing Spiritual Tidbits to Snack On<\\/title>\\n<meta name=\\"description\\" content=\\"Looking for a quick spiritual boost? 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{"id":11070,"date":"2024-06-13T10:18:59","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T16:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wakeupcall\/?p=11070"},"modified":"2024-06-28T14:56:05","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T20:56:05","slug":"mindfulnuggets-bite-sized-wisdom-for-everyday-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wakeupcall\/2024\/06\/mindfulnuggets-bite-sized-wisdom-for-everyday-life\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Nourishing Spiritual Tidbits to Snack On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

"spiritual <\/a>

Edgar Soto via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

I read a lot of spirituality books and articles and sometimes stumble upon stories that don\u2019t merit a full column\u2014but have messages worth repeating. Each of these \u201ctidbits\u201d has an important insight (or insights) to offer, ideas that may have you thinking long after you read them. Here are four of my recent favorites, with some light editing.<\/p>\n

What Does the World Owe You?<\/strong><\/h3>\n This short piece comes from Seth Godin\u2019s Blog<\/em> and is a trick question of sorts. The answer of course: the world owes you nothing! While Godin<\/a> is better known for his not so common-sense approach to business, he often offers advice than transcends the business arena.<\/p>\n "\n* Asking what the world owes you \u2026 is a trap. It\u2019s based on scarcity and entitlement, and most of all, the world isn\u2019t listening. When more and more people focus on this question, it simply pushes us apart.<\/p>\n On the other hand, asking \u201cwhat do I owe the world?\u201d opens the door for endless opportunity. When lots of people ask this question, the contributions add up, the connections are solidified and better is possible.<\/p>\n *The best part is that waiting for the world to get things just right is exhausting and frustrating, while taking responsibility for what you might be able to contribute can be energizing and fun.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To Start Working on Mindfulness, Take These 3 Steps.<\/strong><\/h3>\n I signed up for Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a>\u2019s Pump It Up <\/em>email newsletter to pick up the occasional fitness tip but find I use it more for tips about life, aka life hacks. Credit goes not just to Arnold, but a team of astute writers. Here\u2019s one I recently appreciated about mindfulness, valuable advice we all can use.<\/p>\n " If you want to start working on mindfulness, here are three tips that can help.<\/p>\n 1. During stressful times, take on the role of the observer. Don\u2019t judge your thoughts or feelings. Try to observe what is happening to you objectively.\u00a0Often, it\u2019s not what you feel that causes stress \u2014 it\u2019s your own harsh judgment.<\/p>\n 2. Remind yourself that all stress isn\u2019t bad. Perceiving stress as harmful to your health can do more damage than the stress itself.<\/p>\n 3. If you feel stress increasing, take action. Set aside 10 minutes and focus on calming your mind. You can do this by listening to a guided meditation or silently repeating a word or phrase you choose. If outside thoughts\u00a0interfere, don\u2019t\u00a0fight them. Listen and observe without judgment, and then return to the meditation or phrase. A vital part of mindfulness\u2019s effectiveness is making time for yourself rather than constantly fighting stress or feeling rushed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Try a Prayer Without Words<\/strong><\/h3>\n I get a weekly recap from Richard Rohr<\/a>\u2019s Daily Meditations<\/em> newsletter at the Center for Action and Contemplation. It\u2019s a compilation of meditations from the week and I usually find a quote or exercise I find compelling. The edited passage below comes from author and Episcopal priest Barbara Cawthorne Crafton. It\u2019s about how during times when words fail us, we can turn to wordless prayer to help sustain us.<\/p>\n " God is not a figure outside of our experience and does need much information from us. We\u2019re not in charge of much of what happens in the world. We don\u2019t really need to pray about anything we need; we can content ourselves with prayer from within it all.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a suggestion: Maybe we could try not using words at all.<\/p>\n This spiritual practice will\u00a0allow\u00a0you your emptiness, rather than fight to fill it. An example is the ancient practice of centering prayer; the quiet, gentle abdication of all your illusions of personal power and control. This prayer is not measured by the quality or quantity of emotion it produces. It doesn\u2019t have to be measured at all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 11 Rules from Every Self-Help Book Ever<\/strong><\/h3>\n Tim Ferriss once called Kevin Kelly<\/a> the most interesting man in the world and ever since then I\u2019ve been tracking his weekly email newsletter Recomendo<\/em>. The rules that follow were actually from an article first published on the website Mashable. It boiled hundreds of self-help bestsellers to 11 simple rules. I\u2019ve added a little clarification, as needed.<\/p>\n " 1.\u00a0Take one small step.<\/strong>\u00a0As Aristotle said, \u201cwe are what we repeatedly do.\u201d Take one step. When ready, repeat.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Change your mental maps<\/strong>.\u00a0 Before can you achieve it, you\u2019ve got to believe it.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Struggle is good. Scary is good<\/strong>.\u00a0As Eleanor Roosevelt said, \u201cdo the thing you think you cannot do.\u201d<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Instant judgment is bad<\/strong>.\u00a0Take a deep breath and count to 10 before reacting to anything.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Remember the end of your life<\/strong>.\u00a0As Socrates said, memento mori. Life comes to an end, and we have no idea when.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Be playful.<\/strong>\u00a0No matter how difficult life may get. Difficult times pass.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0Be useful to others<\/strong>.\u00a0Find the thing that you have to contribute.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0Perfectionism = procrastination<\/strong>.\u00a0Rarely is anything perfect. Just do it.<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0Sleep, exercise, eat (healthily), chill out. Repeat.\u00a0<\/strong>Check each box each day.<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0Write it all down.<\/strong>\u00a0Make a list of what you\u2019re going to do today. What you want to do in the future\u2014and don\u2019t forget to write down what you\u2019re thankful for.<\/p>\n 11.\u00a0You can\u2019t get it all from reading.<\/strong> There\u2019s no experience for life. Talk to those you know, admire, and trust.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n** You\u2019ll find over 100 spiritually uplifting stories in my book Wake Up Call: Daily Insights for the Spiritually Curious<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I read a lot of spirituality books and articles and sometimes stumble upon stories that don\u2019t merit a full column\u2014but have messages worth repeating. Each of these \u201ctidbits\u201d has an important insight (or insights) to offer, ideas that may have you thinking long after you read them. Here are four of my recent favorites, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1184,"featured_media":11079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1203,541,1499,1940],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-hacks","category-life-tips","category-spiritual-guidance","category-spiritual-living"],"yoast_head":"\n4 Nourishing Spiritual Tidbits to Snack On<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for a quick spiritual boost? 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My latest book Wake Up Call: Daily Insights for the Spiritual Curious was released in 2024, by Wildhouse Publications. My new book Beyond Spirituality will be released in early-2027. I live at the Maryland Eastern Shore with my wife and a small herd of cats and can be reached at tomrapsas@gmail.com.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tomrapsas\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wakeupcall\/author\/trapsas\/\"}]}<\/script>\n","yoast_head_json":{"title":"4 Nourishing Spiritual Tidbits to Snack On","description":"Looking for a quick spiritual boost? 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