In the December 2007 issue of Ode magazine, there is a short article riffing off the twelve days of Christmas tradition that suggests twelve daily topics of reflection. While the Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/Whatever season has come and gone, the idea is still worth exploring.
The article suggests marking each evening with a few minutes of reflection. I'm including the suggestions from the article below, but you can just as easily create your own list of concepts to explore by jotting down concepts and values that feel important to you (you might start by looking at a list like this or this). Line them up in your calendar or put them in a self-exploration jar to pull from each day.
Here are the ideas the article offers:
Day one: Receptivity
What gifts from the universe have you declined to accept or acknowledge?Day two: Generosity
Think of three people and what you can give of yourself to them.Day three: Humility
Think about how humility can become a great source of strength and power for you.Day four: Nobility
Make a list of people from whose noble qualities you can learn.Day five: Solidity
For 12 minutes, simply feel your soul's solidity.Day six: Fluidity
Consider the importance of your well-being and happiness.Day seven: Luminosity
Look back at your darkest moments of the last year, and remember what qualities in yourself and others lit the way for you.Day eight: Reflectivity
Let an image from the outer world settle in your mind and write down five thoughts you associate with it. Reflect on how you might transform it.Day nine: Equanimity
Pick a recent event and review it in light of various possible emotions, like happiness, anger and fear.Day ten: Fecundity
Celebrate the richness of your imagination. Hold this vision and then plan tomorrow's activities. Keep it alive during the day.Day eleven: Sagacity
Think of yourself as an elder who has learn fomr the trials and triumphs of experience. What are some profound lessons?Day twelve: Unity
What ideas, yearnings, thems or insights have come together for you through the holidays?
Of course, it doesn't have to stop after twelve days. I like the idea of simply spending a few minutes each evening with an idea. It doesn't need to be a huge, onerous investment of time. Most likely the exploration will be fleeting on some days, while on other days the subject will really capture your attention.
Ultimately, it's about creating a reflective habit, a habitual time to stop and direct your attention inward, if only briefly.
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Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst TM
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