Spiritual First Aid Kit - Amita Schmidt

We are  delighted to welcome Amita Schmidt to the roster of mindful moms!

Whether it’s a climate crisis, a financial crisis, a personal crisis, or a political crisis it’s important to remember how to maintain equanimity in times of change. It can be quite useful to write down a list of things that are essential, that you can trust and rely upon no matter what. This way, if you get disoriented or overwhelmed by what is happening in the world, this will be your emergency spiritual first aid kit.

Spiritual First Aid Kit

1) MEDITATION PRACTICE

Have some kind of daily meditation, prayer, or way of connecting with the bigger presence, stillness, or dharma. Even a few minutes of daily meditation can heal and help you remember the bigger picture (i.e. it’s not just about the “human thing.”)

2) SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE

Do some kind of daily or weekly service. Service connects and brings happiness. Service gets you out of the ego and back to what matters most: loving and helping each other.

3) MAKE AMENDS

Fear or overwhelm can make you do or say things that aren’t in your integrity. Keep your emotional house clean. Take responsibility and make daily amends (apologies or behavior changes) when your actions or speech create suffering for yourself or others.

4) GROUNDING IN NATURE

Pay attention to the sunrise or sunset everyday. No matter what happens in the human world, the sun always rises and sets. You can also listen to a river or watch the trees. These simple daily phenonmena are reminders of what we can always be grateful for.

5) DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE EVERYDAY

What brings you joy? Do a few minutes of this everyday.

6) GENEROSITY

Although it might seem antithetical, during times of difficulty give more. Your true wealth is in what you give.

7) SURRENDER

Truly surrender. Remember, this is samsara and you are not necessarily supposed to get your way, have a happy ending, or never suffer. When you stop manipulating life with your will and agenda, then it’s quite interesting to see what happens next. Are you willing to face anything? Are you willing to trust that whatever happens is a way for you to learn and grow?

REMEMBER YOUR TEACHERS, ELDERS, OR MENTORS

Mentally ask for support and guidance from your elders every day. Take refuge in their lineage of wisdom and love.

9)COMPASSION

When suffering increases for yourself or others, the antidote is compassion. Can you “listen with the ear of your heart” to the 10,000 cries of the world? Can you have compassion for your conditioned mind that continues to go to fear and greed?

Additional first aid items if you get compulsive or worry during times of change:

10) TAKE WORRY HOLIDAYS

Did you ever notice that there is no magical moment where you get to stop worrying? Worry only stops when you say “enough.” With worry remember, what you practice you get better at. Practice acting with wisdom and faith.

11) TAKE NEWS HOLIDAYS

Checking the news 20 times a day will not make things better. Find a reasonable amount of times to check the news daily, and a reasonable amount of minutes with the news and stick to this amount.

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