I would like to invite all of you to join me in a spiritual practice this Lent.
For the first few days of Lent, I’ve attempted to couple mild renunciation (foregoing sweets; desserts) with taking on a practice of times of prayer (BCP). Honestly, it hasn’t really worked for me, and, moreover, it has just felt…awkward, like that’s not the right path for this year.
Yesterday, it occurred to me to employ one of the several Stoic practices of memento mori. To give a little brief background, I spent the last year trying out a new series of spiritual/philosophical practices based on Stoicism. I used this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about Stoic practice (especially if you find value in cognitive behavioral therapy, but you have a more philosophical cast of mind).
Anyway, I was particularly drawn to my practice from Week 19 of that year. Succinctly put, the method of this practice is the following:
- Take an action or attitude from your day (large or small) and ask these questions:
- Did this activity/attitude help me build character, or fulfill an important role?
- Would I have done this activity/attitude if this were my last week on earth?
- Journal on your answers to these questions.
- Repeat for up to three actions/attitudes per day.
Disclaimer: Don’t pick the type of activities that we all just have to do in any given day or week. While, yes, if it really were your last week, then you probably wouldn’t waste time on brushing your teeth – that’s not the point.
Personal modification: Last year, I realized that for the second question (i.e. 1 part b. above) I need to think in terms of looking back to that action on my last week as whether it was worth the time or not (along with what actions did I not see in the day that I would want to spend time on during that last week). This was a vital perspective shift for me because the “last week” or “last day” type of question tends to elicit a response of a curated nature. Yet, it is highly unlikely that anyone would know when her or his last day would actually be. So, it’s better to approach in terms of what activities/actions would I want to be sure happen in my last week – then do those things this week, whether it’s my last one or not. In that light, here’s a potential fourth step:
- Journal on one action you did not do that you would want to do, if it were your last week.
If you try this practice out and it works for you, then I’d love to hear from you in a comment!