The concept of the “bucket list” is somewhat straightforward. Essentially, this is a list of accomplishments a person hopes to complete before he or she “kicks the bucket.” While a general list can be a wonderful way to give yourself long-term goals, you can also be a bit more specific in the way you construct it. Instead of being general, you may wish to focus on spiritual goals. From spending time in a monastery to developing healthy strategies for finding peace amidst stress, you likely have a ton of spiritual goals already. Why not create a spiritual bucket list?
Define a Few Long-Term Goals
You may think that the first step on a journey like this is going to be the most difficult. Luckily, it can become the easiest when you approach it from the right angle. Grab a piece of paper or open the note application on your phone. Write down a few ideas and questions related to the spiritual side of your life. It can also be helpful to ask yourself questions like “how does my spirituality benefit my life” or “where do I feel most at peace?” This will help you create more definition with your long-term spiritual goals.
These first thoughts are not meant to act as tasks on your bucket list. Instead, what you think about during this earliest period can be a great jumping-off point to define clear items for the list.
Separate Personal and Group Goals
As you work through different thoughts about your spirituality, you might notice that some of your long-term goals are personal and some involve other people. Since you really only have control over your own actions in this life, it is best to keep personal and “group” goals separate. For example, you may wish to attend spiritual gatherings more often with relatives. This goal is dependent on how receptive your family members are to the idea, rather than your own commitment level. Distinguishing between personal and group-oriented goals can help you better understand which items are personally attainable.
Create With Imagination and Temper With Logic
When first creating your spiritual bucket list, feel free to be imaginative. However, you need to be practical about your goals as you refine your list. Some goals are almost impossible to achieve. If you research examples of spiritual bucket lists, you may notice a number of people put “witness a miracle” as an item of interest. This is a broad goal and one that is not likely to play out in the way a person expects. A more pragmatic wording of the same goal would be “witness people acting in miraculous ways” or “appreciate the miracle of life more.”
Be Sure To Include Trips
Many of your spiritual goals are going to be personal and involve introspective voyages. However, you also want to work some actual trips into the list. Spiritual endeavors have always involved pilgrimages and treks to holy places and sacred grounds. A bucket list usually contains travel, so spend time thinking about what sites speak most to your spiritual side. For some, this could be the Vatican in Rome or the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Others might want to visit Mecca or journey to a national park where nature can be appreciated in its splendor.
Consider Temporary Items
Not every item on your spiritual bucket list will be about permanent changes. Some items can be tests of your endurance or commitment. For Christians, the period of Lent leading to Easter is often spent abstaining from specific vices or guilty pleasures. Take this mentality and apply it to a few items on your list. Try to give up chocolate, meat, or alcohol for a month or two just to say that you did.
A spiritual bucket list can be a wonderful exercise. Take time to create your own and discover more about yourself in no time.