Our final value here at Cultivating Sanctuary (SM) is “Building practices + community to be well.”

This value is about getting practical. It’s about developing an infrastructure of habits and people that will contribute to your quality of life in ordinary days and be the tools and connections for resiliency when you’re navigating a season that feels more intense due to the level of disruption. As with a lot of things, what this looks like will be particular to your life circumstances and season.

Reflection Exercise

Try this exercise to help you observe what you already have in place that is serving you well and what areas you might want to strengthen or gaps you want to fill by “building practices and community to be well.”

1. Grab a piece of paper and something to write with.

2. Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Answer the following questions. Write down your gut level responses. Don’t overthink it. If you’re stuck on a question or not inspired by it, move on. Decide at the end if you want to come back to that question at a later time or not.

• What does it look / feel like for you to be well?

• What does it look / feel like for you to be well:

—within yourself?

—in your home/physical environment?

—in your relationships?

—in the world (in your paid or unpaid work, in the way you play a role to heal the world)?

• What actions, habits, or routines already make your life function or flow more smoothly?

• What actions, habits, or routines make deposits into your energy levels? What contributes to your ability to get intentional rest and experience renewal?

• Who are the people with whom you can most be yourself?

• Who creates safe space for you to be real and vulnerable?

• Who are your people when you need some distraction or fun?

• In what communities or groups do you most feel like you belong or can find support?

4. What insights do you take away from this exercise?