New Year’s Habits that are Good for the Soul

The Rev. Tish Warren Harrison, an Anglican priest, recently asked writers, scholars and spiritual leaders to suggest new year’s resolutions that offered practical ways to nourish the soul – one’s own soul or the “soul of society.”

Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, offered the following reflection, which Harrison shared in her New York Times newsletter.  

Begin the day reading about faith. 

I’m the early bird of my household. Most days, I’m up before first light. So why do I spend that first precious hour doomscrolling in bed? Even after I get up, brush my teeth and pray, I too often return to things that make me mad on my screen. During Ramadan, I do things differently. I get out of bed immediately after waking, say my prayers, set my intention for the day and then open a physical book about faith (most often about Islam, but not always). I find it so elevating. One purpose of time-bound religious rituals like Ramadan and Lent is to help us reflect upon, and improve, our regular routines. I’m going to use New Year’s to try to bring the practice of beginning the day with a physical book about faith into my everyday life. 

Subscribe to Tish Harrison Warren’s newsletter at The New York Times.