Devotion
A segment of the weekly newsletter is a weekly theme. The theme is an invitation and encouragement meant to help the reader better connect to themselves. Going forward, I’ll be sharing more about the theme in a blog post. Please note that the selected themes can be reflected upon at any time and are not limited to the week the themes are shared and published.
Theme: Devotion
de·vo·tion /dəˈvōSH(ə)n/ noun: love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause. (Oxford Languages)
I appreciate this definition as it brings devotion into the mundane. It’s not just about God (a search of “devotion” will lead to endless connections between the word “devotion” and God) or a connection to whatever you consider a higher power, it’s also about those everyday things and people that make life special and worthwhile.
Devotion is an expansive state of being and an inclusive practice of doing: “I am devoted to…and I show this devotion by...” To be devoted to something or someone is to have that thing or person ever present; it is a drawing of yourself nearer to that thing or person and a lifting of that thing or person higher in your regard. The first step toward understanding your devotions is to become aware of them by asking yourself what you consistently honor, value, and work on improving.
Your devotions are unique to you and the invitation is for you to reflect on what those devotions are, beginning with those devotions that are mundane, but also the most important to you.
Practices for Reflection
Start by taking a moment to breathe and ground yourself. Then, reflect on any or all of the following questions:
What or who currently holds your devotion?
Do you agree with the above definition of “devotion”?
What does “devotion” mean to you?
What or who would you like to be devoted to?
What practices or rituals are in place that support your devotion?
Personal Reflection
Reframes are important to me as they are how I process, perceive, and interact with the world. For some time I have experienced the question of “Who am I?” as a plague or dark cloud hovering over me, creating confusion and putting salt on the wound of Unknown. I wondered how I could reframe the experience of a ”Who am I?” so that the question could better serve me. After reflecting on the word “devotion,” I realized that approaching the question as a devotional practice was the key to changing my experience. How? Despite (or in spite?) of the discomfort the question poses for me, I am devoted to asking myself “Who am I?” frequently. The answer to that question calls upon my curiosity to explore what is important to me and encourages me to seek alignment with those things and people that I am enthusiastic and passionate about. If I can see the question as a part of my devotion to myself, then I am reminded of how important it is to me that I challenge myself to be my best self every day.
As I wrote above, devotion is an expansive state of being and an inclusive practice of doing: “I am devoted to being my best self and I show this devotion by frequently asking myself “Who am I?”
