A Promise and A Prayer
Quotable is a company that sells cards, mugs, magnets, all kinds of things with inspiring and awesome quotes on them. Years ago, I bought one of their cards that felt particularly inspiring to me and have modified it to fit my sensibility (and continue to rewrite it as my insight changes and grows).
Consider using this promise as a starting point for you writing your own promise, which is really intention and commitment (thoughts and actions on how you want to show up that make you feel really good). And, you know, if you “break” one don’t worry about it. Give yourself a break. And/or, examine why and see if you need to rewrite that line to make it more reasonable, realistic, applicable to you.
Here’s my promise in its current version today, February 25, 2021:
February 25, 2021 rewrite
I promise myself to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
I see the opportunity in everything and have faith that my optimism will come true.
I am resourceful and envision a bright future.
I attend to what is happening in the present and acknowledge how I feel in the moment.
I work only for the best, think only of the best, and expect only the best.
I learn from and let go of the past, and I approach the future with curiosity and enthusiasm.
I give so much time to the development of myself that I have no time to criticize others.
I express my truth with grace, compassion, and confidence.
I live in faith that the whole world is on my side as long as I am true to myself and express the best that is within me.
I am a Princess of Poise sitting on the throne of Peace! ”
That last line I got from a prayer in one of Paramhansa Yogananda’s books - in the series of books of his teachings created after his death I think - “The Wisdom of Yogananda”. Did you know Hansa, or hamsa, in Sanskrit means Swan? Paramhansa means Supreme Swan representing the achievement of spiritual discrimination. Yoga means absorption in the Divine and Ananda means Bliss. SO Yogananda’s name basically means “spiritually enlightened being who has achieved Bliss through experiencing his divine nature.“ That’s pretty badass and worth working on in my opinion.
“But for the Grace of God,” am I right?
Here are some questions to get you started writing your own Promise and Prayer for yourself:
What do I commit to? What quality in myself do I commit to cultivating? How do I feel when I follow through on a promise I make to myself or someone important to me?
What skills do I have and share that benefit others as well as myself?
Where do I put my faith? Do I have believe in myself and my own actions?
Do I have faith that my actions are supported by a much larger, greater, and mysterious process which might be called… the Divine, God, Universal Intelligence, Creative Consciousness, Allah, Jah, Ishavara… ?
What is my vision for the future?
How do I spend my time?
