Lately I’ve been going through some major life changes. Some have been welcomed, and others, not so much. Either way, the daily routine of my life has been altered and it has affected my time spent in spiritual practices. I live by my spiritual practices. They are my life line so to speak with the Divine. It’s what centers me. But lately I’ve found myself thrown from my routine. Are there ever times when you feel a little off? Like something isn’t quite right? Sometimes it feels like everything you do is a left a little empty. At other times it feels as if you’re a little out of alignment and everything isn’t quite running the way it was meant to.
This happens to all of us from time to time. A multitude of things can happen to throw us off our game or derail us a bit. It’s not the end of the world by any means. All we really need to do is be present with our situation. Be mindful of the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. And do whatever it takes to get re-centered and realigned.
However, what happens more often than not is instead of realigning, we react. Instead of being present, mindful and connecting with the source, we react by turning to that thing that temporarily takes away the pain, or more likely, distracts us from the problem/feelings. So we falsely validate ourselves with food, coffee, pills, booze, pornography, relationships, sleep, books, videos, video games, gambling, ________________. I don’t think there is a distraction out there that I haven’t tried at one point or another in my life.
This can be a seemingly insignificant ritual or it can be extreme. Anything from facebook to crack. It’s all a false validation and distraction. But no person is going to make you feel fulfilled. That comes from actually living a fulfilled life. No amount of sex is going to make you feel worthy. No amount of time spent online will fill the actual void that you feel. No amount of searching online will lead you to a solution for the ache you feel inside. No amount of alcohol will align your heart and conscious with your purpose and passions. No level of any video game will center you with the Source.
This is why we have spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, solitude, yoga, fasting, journaling, going on a retreat, chanting, sacred reading, etc. They help us to be present. They help us to be mindful. They slowly pull us back to center by connecting us with The Source. There are all kinds of arguments to be made the spiritual practices. I won’t be making them here. But I will say that they aren’t the end, but a means to an end. Doorways to The Divine if you will.
So the next time things seem a little ‘off’. Instead of reacting, realign. Simply be aware that things are off kilter, avoid the reaction to ease the uncomfortable feeling of being ‘off’, and invest some time into spiritual practices.