I’ll tell you a secret for making your life work—sort of a “duh” secret because it’s so obvious: take action. Einstein said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” We can’t simply pray and think about what we want. We must act with intention.

What do you want? What are you committed to? What are your priorities? What do you want to achieve? Take out a piece of paper and write down your commitments. Are you committed to your family, to your kids, to living as an example of engaged spirituality? Do your priorities reflect those commitments? If I were to walk around with you for a day or two, what would I say your priorities are? And yes, please pray and meditate on these desires.

Once you’re clear on what they are, and you’ve been in prayer or meditation about them, take action. Spirituality is action. If you’ve ever said of someone, “I like her spirit,” you are not describing passivity. You’re describing someone who is engaged in the vital activity of living. To pray or meditate, and then not act, can be so counterproductive—like dreaming a pleasant dream, but never waking up to life. A lot of people talk about losing weight, yet don’t do anything about it. Until you do it, you won’t be happy. Act on your prayers and meditation, even if only in simple ways, like enjoying or a nourishing meal or a taking a short walk around the block.

Spirituality is different for everyone. But there is a unifying principle in all forms of spiritual practice: personal well-being and proper eating and exercise are linked. We can improve our physical world through practice living in our spiritual world.

Take 10

There are many ways you can communicate with your higher source on any need. Just decide the forum and have a serious talk. If it’s your weight that’s bothering you, ask that the burden be lifted. Say something like this: “I need to lose weight, and I’m having trouble. I need help. And I do believe in you. And I believe that if you help me, then I know I’ll have a chance.”

1. Prayer
2. Meditation (including guided meditation at Just10Diet.com)
3. Readings of spirit-feeding books, biblical verses or other religious texts
4. Worship in a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or other place
5. Moving meditations
6. Daily practice
7. Small group religious studies
8. Yoga
9. Faith-based weight-loss support groups
10. Pilgrimages to holy places

Remember, your spiritual life doesn’t have to be defined by a deity. Spirituality can also be an attitude: love as the connecting piece we all share; serving others, particularly the less fortunate; or the state of being happy enough with what one has or is, not desiring something more or different. Or spirituality might be a sense of gratitude and hope that recognizes even the little things in life as special events. At its essence, spirituality is a sense of purpose in life—a connection between the individual and something sacred.