Inspirational cards are my new way to connect and grow
Lately, I’ve become obsessed with cards. I’m not talking about solitaire or birthday cards (I love these too), but the kind of cards that awaken and motivate me throughout the day. From “Dogs Against Anxiety” to “Positive Pickle” jars, these small slips of cardstock have become anchors of realignment for my scattered brain.
When my mind feels like a browser with too many emotional tabs open, I turn to spiritual centering cards. They act as a “sacred pause,” offering a simple meditation: “Believe in yourself. You have the inner strength and resilience to get through this and come out stronger.” These words remind me of the growth that can sprout from challenging situations. As Viktor E. Frank famously noted, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response, lies our growth and our freedom.” These cards create that vital space.
Sometimes these cards offer a gentle path—perhaps a box-breathing technique to calm my body. If this is too intense, I can distract myself by listening to spiritual music while playing Sudoku or going for a walk while listening to an audiobook memoir. They help bypass the noise so I can hear the words of Caroline Myss, “the soul usually knows what to do to heal itself; the challenge is to silence the mind.”
My family has discovered that cards are a great way to spark discussions. We use conversational decks to explore interests and stimulate deeper discussions about fears and dreams. It has been a beautiful way to connect with my adult children, my new husband, and my “bonus” family. We find the best flow happens in the mix of the funny and the deep, asking questions like:
- “If you were a cat in this house, what would you say?”
- “Where would you most like to travel this next year and why?”
- “What is a life lesson you learned the hard way?”
Beyond connection, these cards serve as my personal “life coaches.” I have Spanish-language cards for practice on the go, weight-training cards to build my home routine, and cards for trauma healing. They turn daunting goals into bite-sized moments of skill development and practice.
Whether they are tucked into a vision board or pulled from a pickle affirmation jar, these cards remind me that growth is a daily invitation. They offer a moment of “sacred attunement,” helping me align my schedule with my values. As the proverb says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
By changing the card in my hand, I am slowly changing the thoughts in my heart. With every new shuffle, I am awakening my spirit and connecting my actions to my vision.
Grace and Peace from Elissa Noble McCarthy, Aloha United Methodist Church (2270 SW 198th Ave, Beaverton). Feel free to reach out to us: 503-649-9133.
