During a particularly stressful time in our lives, a spiritual healer we admired told both my wife and me to make sure we got enough rest. His words, “Protect your rest,” meant a lot to both of us. He didn’t tell us how many hours of sleep we should have, but he wanted us to make sure we rested enough each night to be able to think clearly the next day.
But what if you can’t sleep? Researchers are looking for ways, outside of medicinal sleep-aids, for individuals to fall asleep more easily and have a better night’s sleep with no side effects. Surprisingly, some researchers, such as Nancy Dignon at Grant MacEwan University, have found that gratitude is a powerful tool in relieving insomnia.
Geoffrey James, professional speaker and contributing editor for Inc. Magazine, writes about the power of gratitude. He suggests that the best time to give thanks is right before going to bed. He advises making a gratitude journal and writing down the positive events of the day.
“As a result, you’ll sleep better, and you’ll wake up more refreshed,” he says.
Many people, myself included, find it helpful to pray before going to bed. They can tell you that praying gives them a peace of mind that allows a more restful night. For me, praying includes acknowledging the protecting power and loving direction of God. The Biblical Solomon, who had great responsibility as King of Israel, spoke of the benefits of this prayerful acknowledging. He wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; … and he shall direct thy paths.” And he concluded, “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
Christian healer Mary Baker Eddy searched the Bible for relief from health issues and found laws of God that can be systematically applied to bring relief from fear, stress and physical illness. She called this discovery Christian Science. She wrote these words about bedtime that I have often found very helpful, “…if you fall asleep, actually conscious of the truth of Christian Science, – namely, that man’s harmony is no more to be invaded than the rhythm of the universe, — you cannot awake in fear or suffering of any sort” (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 61).
So protect your rest – begin your night with gratitude and prayer, and wake up refreshed and well.
