Here’s a list of 52 meditations, one for each week of the year. I sit silently each Sunday evening before bedtime and repeat one meditation as a mantra in my mind. I get lost in thought for a little while and then I fall asleep. This weekly ritual has helped me keep things in perspective.
- There are people in this world that would die for me.
- There are people in this world I would die for.
- The truth will set me free. I will never lie.
- People are not mind readers. I must never hesitate to tell someone how I feel.
- Mistakes happen. I must learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.
- Life is short and people are not perfect. I will forgive myself. I will forgive others.
- My smile brings happiness to the world around me.
- There is nobody else exactly like me, with my exact abilities, talents, and ideas.
- I can help myself by helping those around me first.
- The people I care about deserve to know it. I will show them how much they mean to me on a regular basis.
- I will accept compliments and criticism openly and make educated decisions based on a weighted sum of the two.
- Information is infinite. There are ideas, products and cultures I do not yet understand. I will always keep an open mind to new formulas.
- I am in competition with one person, and one person only… myself. I am competing to be the best I can be.
- True wisdom is the byproduct of life experience. I will seek as many real world experiences as possible.
- Education involves self-imposed discipline. I can only learn if I want to learn. I want to learn.
- I will treat everyone with the same level of respect I would give to my grandfather and the same level of patience I would have with my baby brother.
- I am what I eat. My body is a machine that must be fueled properly if I intend to make it last.
- I will think before I act, but I will always act.
- I will try new things for the sake of broadening my horizons.
- I will never be reckless with another person’s feelings.
- I will never let someone persist on being reckless with my feelings.
- The three most important things in my life are my health, my family and friends, and my education. Everything else is secondary.
- I will celebrate my successes. I deserve it.
- Money will only make my life easier if it is mine free and clear.
- If I wake up several mornings in a row and hate what I am about to do with my day, I will make a change. Life is too short.
- I will never be jealous. Jealousy only deteriorates possibility.
- My attitude can change my reality.
- If I want to remember it, I will write it down in a trusted location.
- I will never spend more than I have.
- I will thank the people who have helped me, and I will return the favor as soon as I am able.
- I will never complain about a problem. I will supply a solution instead.
- I will listen more than I speak.
- If I don’t know, I will ask questions.
- Everything is nothing without happiness. I must do what makes me happy.
- I will never succumb to greed. Enough is enough.
- Time is precious. I will manage my time effectively.
- Right now is the only guaranteed moment in my life. I will make the best of it.
- I will stand firm by my values without senselessly promoting them.
- I will never over-promise. I will over-deliver on everything I commit to.
- I will always assess the situation and provide value where needed.
- I cannot make someone love me. I can only be someone who can be loved.
- I will always strive to be the best I can be, but I will never try to be someone I’m not.
- I will always articulate my words so people understand me.
- I will slow down and become conscious of life’s simple pleasures.
- Everything I do is by choice. There is always another option.
- Less is more. I will get rid of the stuff I do not use.
- If I never try, I will never know.
- I will face my fears. I will not cower.
- My habits define my life.
- I will always take ownership of my actions, or my actions will own me.
- I will never make decisions in a state of emotional haste.
- If I don’t finish what I start, my success rate will always be zero.
Please feel free to edit this list to meet your own personal needs. I’ve made a few modifications myself over the last few years.
Photo by: Kevin Labianco
Glen Allsopp says
Wow, absolutely love this list (and idea), submitted to StumbleUpon as always 🙂
This one is my favourite:
# Life is short and people are not perfect. I will forgive myself. I will forgive others.
There are some people who have been hard on me lately that I haven’t spoken too but I guess I shouldn’t be so hard back 🙂
janelle says
What a great idea 🙂 I think I must repeat number 24 every day, but I’m not sure that it has the opposite effect when it comes to relaxing…lol…Seriously though, one I will try: “I will compartmentalize and take things one at a time”.
Zendad says
These are a few that I use to reflect upon when I need centering:
From great sacrifice comes great reward.
What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.
More importantly than flexibility of the body is flexibility of the spirit and mind.
Stay hungry, stay foolish. (stolen from Steve Jobs)
I don’t have to know the entire staircase is there in order to take the first step.
Peter James says
Interesting list. I especially love #34. I am a big fan of the idea ‘do what you love.’ It’s what my entire blog is based on.
http://yinvsyang.com/
banji - Lesson In Life says
I’m printing the list now 🙂 This should be applied every day. Maybe 10 a day. By Sunday you will finish all 52.
My personal addition to the list – There are a lot of things I can’t control in the universe. Instead of worrying about them, I better work on things I can control.
Chris - Zen to Fitness says
Really loved this post. I have starred it on my GReader (saved for special stuff) and look forward to sharing it with friends and family. Many Thanks!!
Marc says
@Glen: Forgiveness is the only way forward. A grudge will always stunt progression.
@Janelle: 😉 Money is only good if there are no strings attached.
@Zendad: I love the quote: “I don’t have to know the entire staircase is there in order to take the first step.” There is an endless truth in that statement.
@Peter: If you aren’t doing something you love each day, you are wasting a life.
@banji: Great addition. Thanks!
@Chris: Thanks for the kind words.
Flora M Brown, Ph.D. says
It’s so much better to start a new week this way than watching the news. Thanks for sharing these.
Karl - Your Work Happiness Matters says
I’m a huge fan of meditation and all of these could bea great fit. I could use a different mediation every Sunday for a whole year. What a great concept.
My favorite: #23 I will celebrate my successes. I deserve it.
Thanks! Keep those great post coming. The both of you make a great team.
Tabs at Levnow says
Guys, I am still working on the 20 questions to ask on Sunday, but great list anyway, I found a few items I can add to my list of personal guiding principles.
-Tabs
Lance says
This is a superb list! And something I’m going to work on incorporating into my life. A ritual of doing this after going to bed does seem like a very positive way to end the day. I find that many of these really are quite moving when I think about them. And that’s what’s so powerful about this.
Sara at On Simplicity says
I love the long-term yearly approach you’ve offered here. I especially enjoyed:
“I will slow down and become conscious of life’s simple pleasures,” and, “Everything I do is by choice. There is always another option.”
Beth says
That’s an intimidating list. I felt a little lost when I started reading it. I only got to about 12 or so. And that was just reading them.
Beth
Alli says
reading this was inspiring.
Diana says
I love number 4 – it speaks to where I’m at in my personal life right now! Reminder to self: men are not mindreaders…
Lee says
This is an excellent list. It’s definately going up on the back of the stall door for all to read!!
Marc says
@All: Thanks for the kind words. Quietly meditating to each of these points has worked wonders for me. The more I think about them, the more conscious I am of implementing them.
Elena says
lovely. thank you for sharing.
OLD WISE ONE - says
I AM ADDING THE 52 SUNDAY EVENING MEDITATIONS TO MY CURRENT PRACTICE – GREAT STUFF!
J.A says
From now on, I will read this list everyday instead and truly learn from it – one by one. My appreciation goes to you, many warm thanks.
Sally says
# The three most important things in my life are my health, my family and friends, and my education. Everything else is secondary.
…but then it says i will never spend more than i have…..that’s really difficult to do when it comes to getting an education
Anna says
What a great list. I’m going to print this and keep it with me. I was feeling a little blue, but this was a great pick-me-up. Thank you 🙂
Christina says
This is a great list. I especially like no. 51. I think I will also print it as Anna said above. Thanks!
Cristina says
Very good idea. I was trying to have a meditation theme for every day, but it seems that this idea was difficult to implement, mainly because 7 days in a row is a bit too much for me. A weekly meditation seems more appropriate and it can better respond to the needs I identified during the previous 7 days.
I really loved this!