Staying Steady in Unsettling Times: Daily Silence and Gratitude Practices

September is a beautiful bridge to the fall season and the last quarter of the calendar year.

I have found it to be a good month to sit with what is – the good, the not so good, the wins, the losses, the lessons, and the blessings – before moving into the final months of the year.

There seems to be a lot to sit with this year.

Personally, it’s been a year of reorienting to a new season of my life which I shared in a previous post.

More broadly, I know the state of the world for many of us is unsettling and potentially overwhelming. It’s a lot to sit with.

Two daily practices that help me stay steady and feel cared for are silence and gratitude.

The Power of Daily Silence

Spending time being still and silent is how I recharge and reenergize from the inside out and sit with what is. Sitting with what is means honoring what you feel about whatever you are reflecting on. Not to fix it or explain it, but simply to acknowledge it and let it move through. You may find it helpful to capture your thoughts and feelings in a journal or notebook afterward.

Cultivating a Practice of Gratitude

Gratitude brings deeper awareness to the blessings that are already present. There are many ways to incorporate gratitude into your day.

✦ Gratitude Journal: Write down 3-5 blessings, lessons, or gifts each day to cultivate appreciation.
✦ Morning and Evening Ritual: Begin and end the day with a moment of thanks for the people, experiences, pets, etc. that are a part of your day.
✦ Express Gratitude to Others: Call, text, or write a note to someone to let them know how much they mean to you.
✦ Gratitude Walk: Take a walk outdoors, noticing and naming things you are grateful for in your surroundings.

Beginning and ending the day with these practices is one of many ways I am staying steady in unsettling times. They feel especially supportive right now.

What are you sitting with this September? What practices are supporting you as you move through the year?

Thank you for pausing here.

If this reflection speaks to you, I would love to hear what resonates. If it feels meaningful, you’re welcome to share it with someone who might appreciate it.

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