Rhythm is the basis of life, not steady forward progress. The forces of creation, destruction, and preservation have a whirling, dynamic interaction.
~ The Kabbalah
Excerpted from my book, Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters.
Life sometimes feels like a stroll in the park on a sunny day; other times, it’s like running a marathon in a pack of thousands. One day may flow easily with a sense of accomplishment, while the next day you awaken out of sorts, unable to perk up.
My life often looks more like a marathon. If I have not written for a while, I may feel guilty that I am not keeping the schedule I set for myself. However, rather than beat myself up, I decided to find out what would happen if I simply trusted myself and the rhythms of my life. Instead of pushing the river of life, I allowed my inner urgings to tell me when to write and when not to, allowing my writing to flow more easily.
When I worked in the corporate world, I would expect myself to be productive from 8am to 5pm every day, as if productivity could happen on schedule, like a mechanized production line. In truth, it is unnatural for me and, I suspect, for most people to schedule accomplishments. Some days I accomplished much; other days, I goofed off. On unproductive days, I felt guilty and nagged myself to do better, promising to achieve more the next day.
What if you trusted the rhythms of your life? What if you let your inner urging direct your day? Listening to your inner urge—guidance, Soul direction, or inspiration—can result in more achievements and less stress because you will be moving with and not against your natural rhythms.
Of course, deadlines may dictate what you must do and when but, if you look clearly at the present circumstance, you probably still have more flexibility to go with your natural flow than you have been allowing yourself.
The deadlines that are often most stressful are actually the deadlines that are self-imposed. Is your daily “to-do” list so long that no one could finish it, making you discouraged before you begin?
Learning to listen to inner guidance about what to do today allows your day to flow with ease. Take a risk and try trusting what you feel. Trust the rhythms of your life. You’ll see how much easier and more joyful life can be!