Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.” – Robin Sharma

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ultimately to our selves. There are many types or styles of prayer depending upon one's particu-

lar religious or spiritual tradition. Some types of prayer do not seek a specific

outcome but simply ask that "God's will be done." The Lord's Prayer of the Christian tradition is a good example of this type of prayer. A more directed

style of prayer seeks to achieve a desired outcome—a prayer that asks for aid in healing, for instance. Okinawan prayers often focus on asking for bless- ing in the form of health and happiness for one's family. The Christian tra- dition seeks divine intervention in the form of forgiveness of one's

transgressions against God or one's fellow human beings. In the Buddhist

tradition, prayer usually takes the form of seeking enlightenment or a greater awareness. All prayer can be practiced either alone or with others—it can be

wonderfully effective either way. To get in tune with the Okinawa Program,

let's start with the reflective prayer. Reflective Prayer

Reflective prayer resembles the Okinawan traditional shamanistic practice of

getting in touch with a higher source of spiritual energy. It combines the

practices and benefits of both meditation and prayer. Reflective prayer is not

difficult to do, nor is it restricted to any one tradition or faith. It's effective

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