Giving with Practice
Most religions include service, charity, or acts of giving as part of their core traditions. In Judaism, there’s tzedakah. In Christianity, tithing. In Islam, zakat. Across different belief systems, there’s an emphasis on caring for others—through time, money, effort, or presence. But you don’t need to follow a religion to practice giving. For a long […]
Connection with Practice
Religious communities usually come with built-in connection. Weekly gatherings. Holiday meals. People celebrate and grieve together. That was my experience growing up Jewish. I’ve been to Seders, Shabbat dinners, and other Jewish gatherings. As an adult, I’ve also celebrated Christmas and Easter with friends’ families. There’s something really beautiful about coming together to eat, to […]
Notice with Practice
Prayer is a daily ritual for many religions. In Muslim tradition, they pause to pray five times a day. Christians and Jews traditionally say a short prayer before meals. While the words and reasons may differ, these rituals share something in common: they ask us to stop and notice—what we need, what we have, and […]
Repeat with Practice
Across many religious traditions, chanting, singing, or repeating phrases has been part of prayer, meditation, or ritual for centuries. But you don’t need to follow a specific belief system to feel the benefits. I’ve sat in rooms where people chanted together—no performance, no pressure—just sound, rhythm, and breath. One group handed out lyric sheets so […]
Rest with Practice
Many major religions set aside time each week for rest: In Judaism, the Sabbath is from Friday evening to Saturday evening. For Christians, Sunday is the traditional day. In Islam, Friday is a day of congregational prayer and pause. While the specifics vary, the message is consistent: take a break from your regularly scheduled life. […]
Choose Your battles with Support
I used to think every battle was worth fighting. If something didn’t feel right, I reacted. I spoke up, pushed back, made it known. I thought that was strength. I didn’t want to feel like a pushover—or let anyone think they could walk all over me. Choosing which battles were worth it didn’t seem like […]
Go Where It’s Warm with Support
I used to think that being strong meant sticking it out with people—even when it didn’t feel right. I stayed in friendships where I constantly felt like I was walking on eggshells. I kept making plans with people who seemed to criticize more than they cared. I stayed close to family members who showed me, […]
Stop Comparing with Support
When I first started going to support groups, I was a little confused. Not because anything was wrong—but because it was new. The format, the phrases, the way people spoke—it all took time to get used to. But I didn’t feel like an outsider. I heard people share stories and I related. I felt comforted […]
Listen Without Fixing with Support
One of the most powerful things I’ve experienced in support groups is how people share without interrupting or offering advice. No fixing. No jumping in. Just listening. In the groups I attend, there’s a guideline called “no crosstalk.” That means no interrupting, no giving advice, and no directly responding to someone else’s share. When someone […]
Take What Works with Support
A few years ago, I started going to a support group. I was nervous about joining because I grew up in an environment with a lot of rules—the kind where stepping outside of expectations brought shame, not just on you but on your whole family and community. So when I first heard the phrases and […]
