The Upanishads are texts that influenced the yoga tradition, but they echo the truth in many traditions—that we are all connected in God.

A beautiful passage from Isaiah 55.

In Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Art of Power,” positive seeds can take root in your mind if you water them—allow them to flourish. Negative seeds can do the same thing.

Leo Tolstoy is better known for “War and Peace,” but it is said that he kept a series of essays by his bedside. This collection of essays, compiled in “Wise Thoughts for Every Day,” speak eternal truth about faith, pride, justice, and work. This episode is about pride, and it comes from the translation by Peter Sekirin.

This passage from Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Book of Hours” shook me. It shows that God walks with us through “beauty and terror.” Even if we don’t notice God’s presence, we should “just keep going.”

In a busy and distracted world, sometimes we forget that we have a purpose to fulfill. John Henry Newman reminds us that we all have a mission in our lives unique to us, whether we attend to it or not.

Why add to the negativity in this world? You can take the advice of Og Mandino, who said, “Greet this day with love in your heart.” This mantra can begin melting a negative state and help attract more positive moments—or at least help you notice them.

The early morning hours are the best time for a spiritual practice. It doesn’t have to be structured, but it should be consistent. Starting your day with something positive establishes a good foundation for opening up life in the spirit.