Here’s a simple spiritual practice: begin and end the day with intention. That’s the message behind the 41st lojong slogan. It says, “Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end.” That activity is bringing to mind our desire to be a bodhicitta today. And reminder, a bodhicitta simply means someone who lives compassionately toward self and others.

So here’s how it works. In the morning, before you get out of bed, just take a moment to set your intention. At night when you climb in bed, take a moment to scan the day. You can offer all your actions up in the hopes that they serve in the best way. You can also let go of whatever didn’t go as you’d hoped or planned. Remember, it’s compassion toward others AND ourselves.

Sometimes teachers refer to the two bodhicittas. The first is intention, and the second is actually doing it. Buddhist teachers encourage us to keep both of these with us during the day. (Because obviously, we need them both!) Which is why Jamgon Kungtrul says every morning, begin with this intention: Today, I shall keep the two bodhicittas with me.

The Christian tradition offers something similar in the Ignatian daily Examen. At the end of the day, you scan the day for gratitude, for forgiveness. You offer it all up to God. And then you start fresh the next day.

Whatever way it might look for you, try to begin and end with intention each day this week and see what happens. As Norman Fischer says, “There’s no one who can’t afford or is too busy to have a thought in the morning and a thought at night.” Exactly. This is so doable. And yet, you may be surprised at how much this can change you!