Lent is a Christian observance consisting of forty days leading up to Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. This is a profoundly important season for some people and one of complete irrelevance for others, depending on your spiritual practices and beliefs. The discussion of how Lent is observed is not the focus here. The focus is on how you can incorporate some of the practices associated with Lent into your abuse recovery.
Generally speaking, three things accompany the observance of Lent: sacrifice, prayer, and charity. Here are some suggestions to consider incorporating in your life between now and Easter that have the potential to facilitate greater healing for you. Regardless of your spiritual practices or faith traditions, these suggestions can accompany you on your personal journey to bring comfort and purpose to your recovery process.
Sacrifice
Consider sacrificing your practice of negative and degrading self-talk. What would happen if you abstained from talking to yourself in condemning and demeaning ways for forty days? What would happen if you sacrificed your habits of tearing yourself down, of speaking with disrespect to yourself and your worth until Easter? Negative self-talk may be much harder to give up than chocolate cake or beer! This is a sacrifice of long-toxic habits.
Prayer
Consider spending five minutes a day (or more) in quiet reflection and meditation. Sit in silence, release your spirit to seek God’s peace, love, wisdom, and direction. Open your heart and mind up as a receptor. Don’t ask. Don’t talk. Receive, connect, and drink deeply from God’s unconditional acceptance of you.
Charity
Look beyond yourself to those in need around you. Speak kindly to your family (yes, even THAT member of your family like your partner or your child!), your friends, and your colleagues. Call a minimum wage fast food worker by his or her name and thank them for serving you. Leave a tip for the maid who cleaned your hotel room. Donate food to feed hungry people, open the door for a young punk who is behind you at the convenience store or burger joint and say “Please, go ahead!” Look people in the eyes and smile. Prepare a meal for a single parent and bring it to their family.
Observance
Abstinence of negative self-talk, quiet meditation with God, and looking beyond yourself can bring a connection to the observance of Lent into your abuse recovery. Who knows, if you try this for forty days, maybe you’ll continue it for forty more!
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