Out of the Rut and Into the Flow

A while back, I wrote about the importance of being flexible with our routines. That lesson circled back to me again this week, so I trust it will be timely for someone reading this message today.

For the most part, my routines serve me well. When I miss my morning walk or yoga practice for too long, I definitely feel off-center and out of sorts. Not only are these habits good for me physically, but there’s also something comforting about having a set schedule that creates a sense of stability and structure.

However, once in a while, I notice I get a bit rigid with my routines, and what once felt like scaffolding can start to feel more like a cage. That realization hit home again last Friday on Halloween when I almost let my morning walk keep me from a joyful opportunity to collaborate with my dear friend Carrie in Tampa.

Four years ago, I had one of the best Halloweens in a long time with Carrie and her family, playing games and watching Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+. I especially loved helping Carrie pass out candy to the cute trick-or-treaters in her neighborhood. Seeing the little ones all dressed up in their costumes is my favorite part of Halloween. Carrie gladly welcomed me to join her and her husband again this year for this Halloween tradition. And then she posed another question.

Would I like to join her for the livestream she hosts every Friday at noon for the members of her Lighthouse Community? I’ve had the honor of being her guest in the Lighthouse several times, and it’s always joyful and magical. There’s something about our energy together that brings out both our best and our silliest selves. Of course, I wanted to join her for that!

But to make it to Tampa before noon, I’d have to skip my morning walk. For a brief moment, I almost let that stop me. Then I remembered my recent intention to get out of my rut, spend more time with my friend, and experience more joy and connection. This was the perfect opportunity to do all of those things! Once I remembered this, the decision was easy. I let go of my walk and got on the road to Tampa as soon as I could that morning.

During the drive, Carrie and I chatted by phone about an idea I had for a discussion topic: Does learning continue on the other side once we lay our body aside? She loved the idea since we have slightly different yet still congruent thoughts on the topic. Not surprisingly, the conversation just flowed once we started the livestream. I think we make a really good team—like a “woo-woo” Regis and Kathie Lee.

After the livestream, we went to lunch and had some miracle moments at the appropriately named Revelations Café. It truly was a gift to spend the day with my dear friend and later have dinner and play cards with her husband when he joined us after work. I’m so glad I didn’t deprive myself of that full experience just to stick to my Friday morning routine.

That decision set the tone for a wonderful weekend at the Center for Spiritual Living in Ocala, where I facilitated a Family Constellations Workshop on Saturday and participated in a panel discussion on Sunday about The Sacred Art of Living and Dying. After spending three days doing work I love, surrounded by people I love, my heart was full.

On Monday, it felt great to return to my morning walk along Sarasota Bay, especially with the cooler temperatures we’ve been having lately. And after a week away, it felt especially good to stretch and breathe deeply on my yoga mat Wednesday morning. But I know, without a doubt, that stepping outside my routine was exactly what my soul needed.

This week, I invite you to take another look at some of the routines that structure your days. Are they still serving you, or have they quietly become limits that keep you from experiencing something new? Every once in a while, it’s good to loosen the reins and see what adventures and miracles are waiting just outside the boundaries of your well-worn path.

If you find yourself in a rut, I would be honored to assist you with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a Private Family Constellations Session. Perhaps you’ll discover an unconscious family pattern that is keeping you stuck. Spiritual Coaching and Family Constellations both reveal hidden beliefs that prevent you from experiencing more peace, love, and joy. Please loook around my website for more information about these healing opportunities and to book a session. I look forward to exploring new paths with you.

Routines as such are dangerous, because they easily become gods in their own right, threatening the very goals for which they were set up. 

A Course in Miracles ~ M-16.2:5