One Sacred Minute
Steps into Renewal Might be Smaller than You Think
It’s almost time to release the first chapter of The Lydia Effect, so I wanted to share one key message we will explore in the book: small steps. I learned about the power of small steps with IT projects—start small to test, learn, and adapt. We can start small with faith and renewal too, even if we have almost no time or energy. So, I tested out something as small as a mustard seed: One Sacred Minute. See what you think.
One Sacred Minute
Have you ever gone to your phone for something and looked up many minutes later feeling anxious after doomscrolling? Yeah, me too. I felt even more powerless and like precious time had been stolen from me.
It’s hard to stop when it feels like everything is unraveling. Our minds naturally scan for threats, trying to make sense of all the chaos and find something solid to stand on or control.
But what if we could start to heal our minds and hearts by creating just a tiny bit of sacred space?
My One Sacred Minute Story
When I made my to-do list and then drifted to procrastinating on my phone, I caught myself and paused. I shut off the noise and prayed to God. Then a song surfaced in my mind. I listened to it a few times, then worked on a little poem (The Still Small Voice on I Am Adamah). In one sacred minute, I sure didn’t save the world or even complete my to-do list, but I had more peace and remembered that even the tiniest sacred space matters.
Ok, here’s the experiment - see what you discover:
Follow the Thread
Changes can start with something small—a thread pulling at your attention, like a topic that keeps showing up.
What if these small moments are invitations? The treasure hunt begins right there—just noticing the thread.
Creating Space
One of these times when you are stuck in reels on your phone, pull away and put down your phone for 1 minute.
Pause and take a few breaths. Let your mind empty to create space for imagination and noticing. See if you can find a little gratitude in this calm.
Looking for Treasure
Then, for the next 24 hours, see if you can just notice things. What words, images, or ideas seem to show up? This isn’t about action - just attention.
Listen to Your Heart
Where does your heart feel a pull—however small? What else did you notice?
What Comes Next
Stay curious. Experiment. Tell a friend about it and see what you notice next.
Our precious attention
What gets our attention changes everything (yeah, this happened to Lydia, too!).
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed this practical step. The PDF of this experiment and the poem is below. Let me know with a comment or chat how this worked, and feel free to share with a friend. I love hearing your stories!
