Getting Away to Find a Deeper Rhythm

Life has a rhythm. We become accustomed to living at a particular pace, at a certain depth. We work hard and play hard, we strive toward our goals, and we accept that life is a certain way.

We accept the stresses and strains of life, and we try not to let them overwhelm us. Slowly, but surely, the choices we make shape the way we live our lives. Life has subtle ways of squeezing us into uncomfortable spaces. We may not even notice that we are trying to fit into patterns and shapes that are not where we want to go.

It is important for me to step out of my regular life, both to recognize how I am being shaped by that life and to remember ways to find my deeper, unforced rhythms. I need to take a deep breath, for a few hours or for a few days, to restore the deeper rhythms from which daily life tends to distract me.

For me, it is important to establish a pattern each day, each week, each month, each year to remember and restore my connection to the deeper rhythm of life.

People recognize and strengthen these deeper rhythms in many different ways. Some people get a lot of support for sharing with a group of supportive people; others need to go deeper on their own. Some people draw strength from external structure and organization; others need to let go of outside influences. Each of us seeks the way that is best for us. Most of us need to interrupt the regular patterns of our days to explore the deeper rhythms.

What do you do to recognize and interrupt the ways life tries to fit you into uncomfortable patterns?

How do you find the deeper rhythms of your life?

[Image by masochismtango]