Summer can be an amazing time, but it can also be pretty hectic. Kids may be home from school and needing more time and attention, friends are visiting, vacations are being planned and taken, and there’s yard work, barbecues, and holidays. With all of that comes more traffic in the house and more household chores.
It’s one of the reasons why summer seems to go so fast. It can be a non-stop frenzy of activity with little time for the rest and relaxation we hope and aim for at its start. It’s among the reasons why many people set their goals on a spiritual reset for the fall.
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What is a Spiritual Reset?
With that summer schedule, many folks put a lot of other things on the back burner, including tending to their spiritual selves. A spiritual reset allows you to refocus on your spirit, whether you’re feeling stuck in spiritual practice, or even life.
Not only does it allow us time to tend to our spiritual selves, but it also provides time to reflect on what that part of us craves, whether or not we’re “feeding” our best selves with the spiritual sustenance we need.
Are we living in alignment with our values or are we, as summer often encourages, speeding through our lives without slowing down, without reflecting?
How Do You Know if You Need a Spiritual Reset?
Ready for the tricky part? How do you know if you need a spiritual reset?
For many of us, on days when we’re constantly on the go, we don’t know we’re tired until we sit down. We may say things like “I never should have stopped/sat/rested,” but the truth is, taking that break allows us to check in on ourselves. Am I burning the proverbial candle at both ends?
In other words, when was the last time you checked in with yourself and asked how you were feeling? Are you simply completing tasks, fulfilling obligations, and “going through the motions?”
Are you sidelining yourself? Feeling a bit disconnected from yourself, God, your circle of connections? If you answered yes, or maybe, it’s time to check in and reset.
Why is Autumn a Great Time for a Spiritual Reset?
If we take our cues from the seasons, there are natural starts and resets. We have discussed in the past a spring time spiritual cleaning, as everything, including us, reawakens in nature. Autumn, at least in the Northern hemisphere, is a cue to slow down and rest, to shed the things past and gather strength for a rebirth in the spring.
Beyond the cues from nature, we have practicalities. Children return to school. Our schedules normalize. Our calendars, with appointments and social engagements, free up. The days get shorter, forcing us to manage our time differently. All of this lends itself to our having or finding time, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, to reflect either on the day ahead or the day we’ve had.
With the combination of the natural world and our structured lives signaling the opportunity to reflect, autumn is the perfect time for a spiritual reset.
Benefits of a Spiritual Reset
While it may not help all the things you’re feeling at the end of a busy and frenetic summer that, somehow, seems too long and too short at the same time, a spiritual reset can have significant benefits, especially as you prepare for the winter, the holiday season, and the new year.
Among the benefits of a spiritual reset:
- A renewed relationship with God
- Enhanced clarity and focus
- Increased peace and joy
- Increased feelings of gratitude
- More patience with people and situations
- Strengthened faith
- Strengthened commitment to self, others, community, and God
- Improved spiritual discipline
- Greater sense of purpose
- Heightened awareness of God’s presence in your life
- Emotional and spiritual healing
- Revitalized interest and engagement with your spiritual community
- Re-engagement and interest in services to others
- Relationships rooted in love
- Restored passion and motivation
- Spiritual growth
- Greater resilience
A spiritual reset is one pathway to stronger relationships, increased peace, and a better sense of self. In turn, these strong relationships, renewed ease, and a better understanding of your own values can help us do two things: prepare for challenges and embrace joy.
Steps to Achieve a Spiritual Reset
You’ve taken some time to breathe, to meditate, to maybe even talk with others about feeling stuck or in a rut. In some cases, you may be doing all the things you need to be doing but just don’t feel connected to anything. If you’re ready to confront those feelings and embark on a spiritual reset, here are a few things you can do.
1. Set aside time for prayer or meditation. We set aside time in our daily or weekly schedules for a lot of things. When was the last time you set aside time– no phones, no screens, no obligations– and meditated, prayed, or simply focused on the quiet? When we schedule time, or even add something to our “to do” list, we are prioritizing it. Prioritize time for reflection.
- Reconnect with scripture. This need not involve reading The Bible from cover to cover, but simply reading passages or getting involved in church communities can help reconnect you. Listening to sermons, learning about theologians, or participating in Bible studies are all great opportunities that can connect you to others while also helping you grow closer to God.
- Join a Bible study or online church. One of the biggest challenges some folks incur when trying to recapture lost spirituality is the potentially rigid schedule at traditional churches. If you’ve got a busy schedule and need to “pencil in” is how scheduled activities are. If you’ve got a lot of obligations, a hectic schedule, a Bible study group or online church can fit into your schedule and meet you where you are in your journey.
- Consider acts of service. Serving others not only helps our communities and builds connections, but acts of service are a way to actively show love for others. They can, in this way, help us grow closer to God and restore our faith. One great way to do this is through volunteer opportunities created or provided by a church.
- Include worship in your daily life. Worship and honoring God need not be focused only on a church building or Bible study. In fact, Swedenborgian theology focuses on how our actions honor God. When we act with love, when we serve others, when we practice gratitude and patience, we are engaging in a sort of worship.
- Seek out learning and growth opportunities. The first rule of getting oneself out of a ditch is to stop digging. If you’re in a rut and going through the motions, change up the motions. Seeking out new learning and growth opportunities is a great way to reset. You may discover new passions, new people, or new pursuits. For example, if you’ve never volunteered before, sign up. Each new experience you have allows you to learn and grow and may open up multiple other opportunities.
If you’re looking to join an online church community that can help you with a spiritual reset, NewChurch Live is here. Whether you’re looking to engage on your own schedule, hoping to learn more, or hoping to connect in person or virtually with a community that understands a spiritual reset is just one step on a spiritual journey, then reach out today!
