Week 3: Re-Centering Identity at Noon
October Newsletter: Contemplative Prayer Pause, Trevor Noah humor
Re-Centering Identity: A little humor
“A lot of us have become a little too attached to our work.” ~ Trevor Noah
In my book, From Burned Out to Beloved, I write a lot about finding out identity in our belovedness, not in what we do. When we base our worth in what we do, we drive ourselves endlessly to burnout.
The whole impetus for Soul Care for Wounded Healers is that we need to re-examine where we gain our sense of worth and value, create rhythms of rest and reflection, and live from this place. In workshops and groups, I invite people to slow down, to engage in contemplative and grounding practices that help us connect to our core self and our Source. I frequently teach:
We need to know and tend to ourselves in order to be well, love others well, and because we are loved.
It is all too easy for helping professionals to forget to take care of ourselves. There is always more to do.
We are worth care, and our work benefits when we live from a more whole and grounded place.
I watched Trevor Noah the other night, and loved hearing how he teased this out in comparison to how the French view what they do. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I welcome you to join me, in below events and engaging in your own daily contemplative prayer practices.
Upcoming Soul Care for Wounded Healer Events
Soul Care Groups: TWO options!
Second Tuesdays, Oct 8, Soul Care Group, geared for helping professionals (former or current), rooted in Christian tradition.
Fourth Fridays, Oct 25th, Soul Care Group for DV/SA Advocates!
Silent Meditation:
Second Fridays, Oct 11th, Contemplative Silent Meditation, (optional breakouts).
If your first time, please register so I can get to know you a bit!
Spiritual Practice: Re-Centering Identity at Noon
Contemplative Pauses in Daily Life
If you’ve been following along in the weekly newsletters, we are at the noon pause, a perfect moment to practice re-centering our identity. In this 5-10 minute prayer pause, I offer a body practice, opening prayer, silence, brief sacred reading passages to meditate on, and a closing prayer.
Body Position: Movement or Rest?
As you take a midday break this week, consider if you need movement or rest. If you’ve been sitting all morning, maybe a quick walk to increase your heart-rate. If you’ve been on the go, try a restorative yoga posture as it feels comfortable to you:
Instant Maui Restorative Yoga Posture
Lie down on your back with legs up on a couch or chair, arms open wide. You can add pillows under your back, arms, or torso, but the main boost is getting your legs up and allowing the blood to flow back to the rest of your body. (Don’t need as much as below!).
My friend and former coworker introduced this to me and I would often find him in this position midday in an empty work room. He often encouraged me to practice, but I was in my sped-up workaholic days and didn’t have time for breaks. Now, I frequently practice this midday.
Remember: you are more than what you do.
Opening Meditation
“O Luminous Face of God ..
In this hour of no shadows, gather us into the guesthouse of your great heart and enable us to see all that waits for us in the brightness of your presence. Heart of Our Hearts, teach us to take heart at this high noon moment. Restore our courage and create in us nonviolent hearts that we may better serve your people. In the name of Jesus who asked us to take heart. Amen.”
~Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp (Seven Sacred Pauses)
Silence
Be still and aware of God’s presence within and all around.
(from John Phillip Newell, Celtic Benediction).
Songs as you breathe, rest, and re-center
Sacred Reading & Meditation
“Creator’s blessing rests on the ones who walk softly and in a humble manner. The earth, land, and sky will welcome them and always be their home.” ~ Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 5:3-10 FNVNT First Nations Version
“…You lead me in the path of Goodness to follow Love’s way.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow and of death,
I am not afraid;” ~ Ps 23 (Nan Merrill, Psalms for Praying)
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Take a moment to give thanks for choosing this time, for slowing down.
If your mind has been racing with all the things to-do, notice that with as much compassion as you can muster. Give thanks for all your mind does, all it keeps track of, all it accomplishes.
Give thanks for your body, for the health you have, all it navigates throughout the day.
Give thanks that you are more than what you do. See how that feels to say that, how much do you believe it?
Imagine what it would be like, to live 24/7 as though you really were beloved, not for what you or accomplish.
Turn to the Beloved with you, asking for the grace to know you are loved not for what you do.
“May we be people who anchor ourselves to the now.
Not allowing our minds to skip to the what-ifs or the what will-happen-whens.
Blessed are you trying to put aside the "everything is possible" mentality.
You who know that sheer effort will not put these pieces back together.
You who have taken yourself off the hook for perfection, and discover rest in "good enough" instead.
One small step, one deep breath, at a time.”
-Kate Bowler, The Lives We Actually Have
Closing Prayer
O God of All . .
All peoples, all nations, all seasons, all years, all hours and days, you who have invited us to love, hear our cry.
Listen to our prayer. Make our spirits free, our hearts open, our minds healthy, our souls awake. Then we will be able to love as you have asked: with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls. The all is frightening, yet in our deepest moments of truth we know that this is what we desire.
O God of all, hear us.
In Christ's name we pray.
~Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp (Seven Sacred Pauses)
RESOURCES
Contemplative Prayer Practices
Whatever your politics, navigating US elections can be stressful! Check out this free Made for Pax resource of Contemplative Practices as we near the 2024 election.
Another free resource by Osheta Moore and Made for Pax, 7 embodied prayers to engage in throughout the day.
BURNOUT & RECOVERY RESOURCE LIST (Hay varias en Español también). If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear about them!
INSIGHT TIMER GUIDED MEDITATIONS:
I’ve recorded some of my soul care group meditations for your listening and prayerful contemplation on-the-go. I welcome your rating and sharing of the meditations.
SOUL CARE FOR WOUNDED HEALER: CUSTOMIZED NON-PROFIT WORKSHOPS
Based on the book, From Burned Out to Beloved, workshops integrate discussion questions, grounding activities, trauma research, recovery tools, contemplative practices, and other spiritual disciplines. They seek to improve the overall well-being of individuals, enhance organizational culture, and improve sustainability and effectiveness in work.
Workshop topics can be combined or tailored specifically for your group. Contact me to start the conversation.
Bethany Dearborn Hiser is the Director of Soul Care for Northwest Family Life, a network of therapists trained to work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma.
She is the author of From Burned Out to Beloved: Soul Care for Wounded Healers. For more about her, her book, or workshops she offers, visit: