Bringing Spiritual Attentiveness to Daily Life

"The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you,

the better you hear what is sounding outside of you."

- Dag Hammarskjold

Spiritual attentiveness refers to a heightened awareness and mindfulness of one's spiritual beliefs, values, and experiences in daily life. It involves being present and connected to the deeper, often intangible aspects of existence, such as purpose, meaning, and interconnectedness with others and the universe.

When I was younger, I was not spiritually attentive. I was too busy being happily busy. I took my good life and the gifts the universe had bestowed on me for granted: my loving family, my friends, my successful career as a scientist-entrepreneur, my beautiful home. It took a literal fall in my early fifties to wake me up from my inattentiveness (a la St. Paul!). Natural processes like aging and illness teamed up with accidents like my fall in awakening me from my spiritual slumber, as my loving Creator decided it was time to open my eyes.

In 2009 my husband Stu was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Initially he had no need for a caregiver. His active life continued unabated. Slowly but surely, Parkinson’s made sure that he needed increasing help with various activities of daily living such as cooking, dressing, walking. We were fortunate enough to be able to afford a daytime caregiver. I remained Stu’s evening and weekend caregiver.

Eventually, we both retired from the jobs that gave purpose and meaning to our lives. These changes in my status and in the nature and scope of my daily responsibilities became great teachers of spiritual attentiveness. In learning to pay attention to Stu’s needs, I learned to notice my own needs, as well as the needs of others around me. I discovered how best to meet these needs while maintaining a balanced life as an author, businessperson, philanthropist, wife, mother, grandmother. I came to realize that serving Stu and others was an honor, not a burden.

I started becoming more consciously aware of the plethora of gifts that I had received over the course of my life. I paid attention to these gifts that seemed to just keep on giving, through aging and illness, in sickness and in health. I started a daily gratitude practice. I learned how to live fully in the moment.

I tell the story of my graced spiritual evolution in my recently published book Surprise Journey: A Spiritual Memoir (available from Amazon.com). As I discovered through my personal life experiences, bringing spiritual attentiveness to daily life can be enriching and transformative. I share with you below some ways to cultivate attentiveness in your daily life. These are practices that have worked for me and for many others.

1.   Listening with Full Presence: When someone speaks to you, give them your full attention without distractions. This shows respect and mindfulness.

2.   Acts of Kindness: Perform random acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor, giving a genuine compliment, or volunteering your time.

3.   Mindful Eating: Pay attention to your food, savor each bite, and appreciate the effort that went into preparing it.

4.   Compassionate Responses: Respond to others with empathy and understanding, especially in challenging situations.

5.   Intentional Living: Make choices that align with your values and principles, such as ethical shopping, mindful consumption, and supporting causes that matter to you.

6.   Mindful Movement: Engage in activities like yoga, tai chi, or simply walking mindfully, paying attention to your body's movements and sensations.

7.   Active Listening in Prayer or Meditation: During prayer or meditation, focus on listening and being open to insights rather than just speaking or thinking.

8.   Regular Reflection: Spend time regularly reflecting on your day, your actions, and how they align with your spiritual beliefs and values.

These simple behaviors, when practiced consistently, can help nurture a sense of spiritual attentiveness, deepen your connection to your inner self and the world around you, and enrich your overall well-being. If they grab your interest, you may want to read my book Traveling: A Spiritual Seeker’s Guide (also available from Amazon.com) which describes them in greater detail.

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