In today’s episode, I talk about my process of introspection before bed, exploring the AA Nightly Prayer and how it can be a tool to do our nightly inventory. I dissect each line, share personal insights, how I apply them, and use this nightly prayer as a guide to finding peace of mind before I lay my head on my pillow at night.

AA Nightly Prayer:

God forgive me where I have been resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid today. Help me to not keep anything to myself but to discuss it all openly with another person – show me where I owe an apology and help me make it. Help me to be kind and loving to all people.

There is a lot to unpack here in each word, but its really just a step 10 before bed and can take as little as 60 seconds to practice. I invite you to join me in this nightly ritual.

Ya know, its funny—when I was a kid there was a nightly prayer over my bed that I used to read every night before I closed my eyes. I forgot about that until this very minute. I suppose I've just switched prayers. This was my well-known nightly prayer as a kid that hung over my bed:

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.