Interviews on Purpose with guest Rich Lewis

Rich Lewis is an author, speaker and coach who focuses on centering prayer as a means of inner transformation. He teaches centering prayer in both his local and virtual community and offers one-on-one coaching. He publishes a weekly meditation, book reviews, and interviews on his site, Silence Teaches. Rich is author of Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer.

Rich resides with his family in Ambler, Pennsylvania. You can learn more about him at www.SilenceTeaches.com.

What gives you your sense of purpose in life?

Living from my true self. When I connect to and live from my true self, the person God wants me to be, my purpose in life thrives. The exciting part is my true self is not an endpoint. It is a life-long journey. My true self is the actions I need to take and do everyday. Often these actions move me out of my comfort zone and that is okay. That is how I grow, learn and experience new, exciting things.

How did you come to discover your purpose?

My life’s purpose is sharing Centering Prayer with others to help heal, transform and connect them to their true self as it has done for me. It has been so life-giving and life-changing that I feel compelled to share my journey with others who wish to learn more. My book, Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer shares how Centering Prayer heals me, transforms me and connects me to my true self, the person God wishes me to be. I offer a free Centering Prayer ebook over at www.silenceteaches.com if you want to learn more about this powerful practice.

How do you connect purpose to your everyday life and work?

During Centering Prayer I let go of who I am not and become who I am. It teaches me to let go of what I do not need to take action on so I can be present and hone in on the daily actions that require my action at work and in my everyday life. This helps me better live from my purpose at work and in my everyday life.

How do you remain vibrant, encouraged and energized?

I have five main practices that help on this front: Centering Prayer, journaling, affirmations, exercise and gratitude.

Centering Prayer is my mainstay. I practice it two to three times per day. I take my first 20 minute sit in the morning when I awake. I need this silent sit! It grounds me and connects me to God. It is God and I partnering to begin the day. I then take two more shorter sits later in the day. These sits are usually 7-10 minutes each. I take these sits around 1 pm and 4 pm. I need these sits! They refresh me and reconnect me to God. They help me to continue the day. They refill my interior reserves.

As part of my Centering Prayer routine I journal. I journal before or after my sits. This is my time to move my thoughts and emotions from my mind and heart to paper. Nothing is off the table. Whatever is top of mind is written down: venting, fears, worries, goals, dreams. Often I will pump myself up to take on a task and write, “I can handle this. Together God and I will conquer this task.” I have found journaling to be a very powerful practice that connects me to my true self.

I am a huge believer in affirmations. Theses are single sentence statements regarding goals I want to accomplish in various areas of my life: personal, mental, physical, spiritual, financial, work, and family. I read them prior to beginning my Centering Prayer practice, then let them go. I let them brew with God as I sit. I believe it is important to share them with God so together we can partner on them. As long as I have an inner peace, calm and excitement about them they stick. As long as they do not harm me or others, they stick. Sometimes they take me out of my comfort zone. That is perfect! I need to grow, explore and try new things.

Exercise and movement is vital. I love to walk in my neighborhood, at a park or through a small town. I love to go the gym, use the weight machines and the elliptical machines. I need this time! I always feel better after a brisk walk or powerful workout!

I end each day with gratitude. Before I go to bed I drop to my knees and thank God for all the big and little things that happened that day: cup of coffee with my wife, walk with my daughter, task completed at work, talk with a friend.

What is one thing that you do everyday that is a necessity for your success?

Centering Prayer is a necessity for my success. I sit with God and then get up and walk with God. Together we partner as I move through the day and accomplish my tasks.

Any other thoughts or words of encouragement!?

I encourage everyone to take a daily dose of silence. Try a practice such as Centering Prayer once per day for one month. Do it first thing in the morning for five minutes. And see what happens.

Thanks for reading!

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