If you’re someone who connects with prayer, you already know how comforting it can be. Whether it’s traditional or improvised, whispered or written, prayer gives us a way to express what’s in our hearts, our fears, our hopes, our grief, our gratitude.

If you’re not religious, talking to “something bigger”, even if that’s just your future self, or the universe, can help you feel less alone. It’s not about asking for miracles (though you can do that too). It’s about putting words to what you’re carrying and releasing it, even just for a moment.

Light a candle. Write a letter you never send. Sit in silence and breathe with your hand on your heart. There’s no wrong way to pray or to connect with what feels sacred to you.