Morgan Harper Nichols - Peace Is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life

Morgan just has a way! Peace Is a Practice is a thoughtful, Spirit-led call to action. This book lets you know that peace is possible!

MICHELLE WILLIAMS, speaker, singer, and author of Checking In

Morgans new book is not only a beautiful piece of art to look at but is also packed with such helpful advice and words of wisdom. I have found so much comfort and joy in this book. Morgan has a gift with words: she knows exactly what needs to be said and how it should be said. It is truly a masterpiece!

DR. CAROLINE LEAF, neuroscientist, mental health expert, bestselling author, and podcast host of Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

Im so inspired by Morgan every day. Her words speak to me gently yet hold me accountable at the same time.

HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE, actor, author, and philanthropist

Both challenge and invitation, Peace Is a Practice beckons to the very core of our humanity and, in the most intentionally beautiful way, breathes life and hope back into our collective soul.

KENNESHA BUYCKS, creative, speaker, and author of Restoration House

These stories and practices possess both a honed vulnerability and a depth of contemplation that are truly refreshing. Morgan is forming each of us into a spiritual creative, connected to our breath, our body, and our own interior world in a way that offers the peace and healing we were meant for.

COLE ARTHUR RILEY, author of This Here Flesh

ZONDERVAN BOOKS

Peace Is a Practice

Copyright 2022 by Morgan Harper Nichols

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ISBN 978-0-310-36170-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-310-36173-2 (audio)

ISBN 978-0-310-36172-5 (ebook)

Epub Edition December 2021 9780310361725

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Cover design: Morgan Harper Nichols

Cover illustration: Morgan Harper Nichols

Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Interior illustrations: Morgan Harper Nichols

Printed in the United States of America

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To my family

F or most of my life, I lived with undiagnosed autism.

I spent years living with a struggle without a name. Throughout daily life, a pendulum in my mind swung back and forth between these two thoughts: I think theres something wrong with me, and I need to figure out what to do with myself, and, I think somethings wrong with me, and I need help...

When I was twenty-seven, I finally had just enough courage to ask my primary care doctor for advice on pursuing an autism diagnosis.

Throughout my childhood, my parents had wondered if I might be on the autism spectrum, but after asking doctors over the years, they were told there was nothing to worry about. I would later find out that most of the studies on autism have been done with boys, so sometimes girls have an incredibly hard time getting support in pursuit of an autism diagnosis.

As I sat there under the blinking fluorescent light, slowly lifting my gaze from the brown tile floor, I finally let out the words, Do you have any suggestions for who I could talk to about autism spectrum disorder? I think I could be on the spectrum.

Without even looking up from his clipboard, my doctor spouted out confidently, You have nothing to worry about. Youre perfectly normal.

Sadly, I left that room believing him. The pendulum in my mind swung back again: I guess I need to figure this out myself. I spent the next few years trying to do just that.

It wasnt until years later that I discovered videos of women talking about their experiences with getting diagnosed with autism as adults. I sat there in awe as I listened. I felt as though they were describing my whole life. Through those videos, I found the courage to seek help again. I ended up finding a specialist in my area and was finally able to talk to someone for the first time.

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder, and the range of symptoms varies widely. The word spectrum is important when it comes to autism because it looks different person to person. Signs of autism begin during early childhood and typically last throughout adulthood. Autism can affect everything in daily life, from how someone socializes and communicates to how they learn and function. My own diagnosis includes a sensory processing disorder, which in my case means something as simple as the texture of clothing or a bright light can have a profound impact on me and my ability to process and be present in the moment.

For years I have been incredibly hard on myself for having these sensitivities. When I was a touring musician, sometimes I would walk off stage ready to cry and didnt know why. I felt overwhelmed physically, even when I felt fine emotionally. Now Ive realized that the high volume from the massive speakers and the sound of all the instruments was wearing me down minute by minute.

My life has been filled with stories like this. From as early as I can remember all the way into being an adult, I have had moments when I felt ready to shut down, but I had no idea why. Moments when I would go into a bathroom and sit in the stall just to have a moment of silence. Moments when I would run and hide and retreat to a dark place just to get my heart rate down.

I would also have moments when I would go outside and just stare at the wide-open sky.

I would sit on the front porch of my childhood home and carefully observe the rocks scattered around my feet.

I would go to the nearest pine tree and grab hold of the bark and just stand there for a while.