Rest. Our bodies, minds, and spirits need time to rest. It's natural to have ups and downs in energy, inspiration, progress, and so on. We need down time to repair ourselves, to reflect, to recharge. Down time can even force itself on us if we resist it, like when we are overly stressed at work and we catch a cold --it's a sign to slow down. We need that. It does not indicate failure, but merely is part of a cycle.
What if you hang onto your down time too long, or your down time becomes too negative, and it feels more like being stuck in a rut?
Do you have a plan to get out of it? ...Yeah, neither do I. But I'm developing my plan(s) now. The time to stock up on groceries, candles, water, and Jello shot supplies is while the sun is still out, before the emergency weather situation. You can't run out to Target for cereal in the middle of an ice storm.
What kind of rut do you need an emergency plan for? Maybe you are on a fitness kick right now and love it. You have that endorphin high, your skinny jeans fit, and you are constantly developing the best playlist for your next workout. Before this, there was likely a time when the only exercise you got was wrestling yourself into jeans. Consider whether it is possible for that rut to happen again (hint: it's possible) and make a plan to get out of it after you've recuperated and finished a barrel of cheese puffs. Make a list of tactics to escape the rut --an emergency plan. Maybe running in the best park in the city always puts you in a peppy mood. Add that to your list. Add re-reading the workout diary entry after you finally bench pressed your roommate, wearing Spandex and listening to "Let's Get Physical," getting a massage to remind yourself that you have a body, or splurging on a trainer session. Write down whatever will help you get back on track to what you love when it's difficult to remember how.
This goes for spiritual ruts, too. When I'm in a spiritual rut, I am negative and focused on the little dramas of life, unable to see the bigger picture. It's miserable! Do you have a plan in case this happens to you? Remember a time when you felt the most spiritually healthy, the most connected to God or the universe. Explore your memory a bit and find some things to put in your spiritual emergency plan. What reminds you of your spirit? What makes you feel connected? What helps you to feel peaceful? What calms you? What makes you burst with joy? Some ideas I have for myself are:
- Taking a REALLY slow deep breath
- Making plans with a friend who has a great attitude
- Reading a quote I love
- Helping someone without expecting anything in return
- Going to a yoga class
- Looking back in my journal to times when I felt peaceful
- Listening to calming music while doing nothing else
- Re-reading a book which has brought me insight
- Hanging out with a pup
- Listening to a guided meditation (...possibly napping)
- Writing in my journal in a coffeeshop with all the emo kids
- Repeating a phrase or mantra which fits the way I want to feel
Be gentle with yourself. Be honest if you need time to rest from exercise, or coast a while in your career, or gently observe instead of pushing pushing pushing for action all the time. Also ask yourself if what you see as a "rut" is really a bigger issue you need more help with. But be truthful if you have fallen into this rut and escaping has just seemed too hard to make you budge. Make a plan to make your next escape easier.
STEPH! Your post about rest is so timely for me. It's like you are psychic. :)
I have been in a rut of "go go go" and working to change it. I swear that writing down a checklist that includes something restful (like meditation) works. I have "checked" it off for a few days now that I'm paying attention!
Posted by: Amy Stribula | 02/09/2011 at 03:48 PM