Spiritual Formation

Giving is one way we express our love—to those close to us, to our neighbors, to animals and plants, and to the Earth. We are encouraged to be generous at certain times of year—holidays, birthdays, at year's end for tax deductions—but spiritual practices can help us make generosity an everyday activity.

People tend to think that creativity is a solitary endeavor, yet artists often talk about having a muse and the joy they experience creating for their loved ones. In ancient China it was said that it takes two to create a masterpiece: an artist who imagines something beautiful and a person who appreciates it.

To do your part in creating a masterpiece:

Hugh Prather, author of many books of spiritual reflections, considers the steps necessary for forgiveness in Morning Notes: 365 Meditations to Wake You Up. He concludes that "a judgmental feeling about another person is based on the same belief as my fear of making mistakes: I think what someone once did is more important than how the person is now."

Consider ways to extend your love to the living planet we call home, while renewing your relationship with nature, friends, and family. Coordinate rides with others going your way or take public transportation when possible. Eat locally-grown, fresh foods. It's a way to love your body and the environment. Begin or renew your commitment to recycling. Plant a tree. Create a garden of love and forgiveness.

What else can you do to honor yourself, the earth, and the rest of its fellow inhabitants?

In It's a Meaningful Life: It Just Takes Practice, Bo Lozoff shares a slogan used in his community: "You can do hard." Lozoff, the cofounder of the Human Kindness Foundation and its award-winning Prison Ashram Project, explains that in our times saying something is "too hard" allows us to give up without trying.

This hugging practice is recommended by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in his Plum Village Chanting and Recitation Book. It is a perfect ritual to do with the ones you love.

In her book Radical Self-Acceptance, Tara Brach, describes a simple spiritual practice for reframing how you see yourself:

Incorpora más amor, perdón y compasión en tu vida a través del pensar, discutir y actuar. Utiliza estas tarjetas cuando estés solo o cuando tengas la compañía de tus amigos, familiares, estudiantes, compañeros de clase o colegas. Selecciona una tarjeta. Lee la cita en voz alta; luego voltea la tarjeta y encuentra las sugerencias sobre qué discutir y cómo actuar. También disponible en Inglés: Conversation Cards.

Descarga, imprime (en ambos lados en papel de 8.5 x 11 pulgadas), y corta.

A compliment is more than something nice you say to someone. It demonstrates what you value and also strengthens that quality in yourself. Here are ways to practice.

In The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace, Jack Kornfield describes an African forgiveness ritual: "In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman, and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual.