How do we practice liberating love through inclusion? It starts at home. This practice starts with you. Liberating Love starts with Us. On Sunday morning we light a chalice. Do you light a chalice at home? In these days where liberation for so many of us feels quite distant, we need to lean into practices that help us practice what we preach.
Each month the Soulful Home resource outlines a practice you can try out at home that connects with our theme. This month, the practice is one of creating Inclusion Affirmations. (Be sure that you’re connected to us through Remind or email director.religious.education@uuberks.org for the link to Soulful Home: Inclusion packet.)
I used affirmations as a spiritual tool to connect my hopes to that which is greater than me and counter narratives that didn’t serve our goals when I was preparing to give birth. Affirmations are a tool of strength. Reciting chosen affirmations connected me to my family, the generations before, and the generations yet to come. As we collectively labor to create a more inclusive world, I invite you to create some affirmations to help you in the days ahead.
Soulmatters contributor April Rosario shares the key elements of spiritual affirmations: They are created with intention. Repetition gives spiritual affirmations power. We create affirmations in alignment with our core values. In the repetition we find that the affirmation is embedded deep down and it can shape your thoughts, emotions and actions in a spiritual way.
Try It Out!
Try out creating an affirmation for inclusion this month! Here are April’s steps:
Choose an affirmation to remind you of the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of their differences. Create an affirmation that will help you have an attitude of acceptance, compassion, and unity in your relationships with others. Do you want your affirmation to focus on inclusion, compassion, or unity? You choose.
- Examples to get you started:
- We are all connected
- Every person has value
- We celebrate our differences