All men are susceptible to getting into ruts where it’s hard to break free. The definition of a rut is a “fixed and usually boring routine.” They can occur in our marriages, parenting, friendships, careers, and the things we do outside of all of those.
“Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy.” – Henri de Lubac.
Oftentimes, our greatest achievements and fondest memories occur at the moments we break out of our comfort zones and embrace change.What do we do when we realize we’re bogged down in a rut? If life is to be a journey of continued personal growth, then we can’t remain on the same worn paths and expect different results. Oftentimes, our greatest achievements and fondest memories occur at the moments we break out of our comfort zones and embrace change. Start a fresh path in your life by learning how to get out of a rut.
Live in the Present.
We spend a lot of time planning for the future or looking back into the past. Often, we forget to simply live in the current moment. We overlook the special things that bring color into what can be gray lives. We need to soak in the laughter of our children and the warm caresses of our wife. Spend less time daydreaming about other places and more time truly being present.
Declutter.
Most of us have a habit of accumulation. We tend to keep accumulating until we become bogged down in the clutter. This applies to all aspects of living, both physically and psychologically. It is important to make a clean sweep on occasion and rid our lives from the unnecessary and nonproductive.
Forgive.
Resentment and anger are like corrosives eating away at the soul. Left to fester for too long, they will eventually destroy life. The remedy against them is forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness and giving forgiveness. When we do so, we start to live in freedom again.
Self-Improvement.
Learn something new. Try new experiences and meet new people. Perhaps it’s learning a different language or simply starting a new positive habit of spending more time in nature. Build something. Create something. The point is to enhance the quality of your life.
Communicate.
Such a simple sounding thing and yet so difficult for so many is the ability to communicate the things that are bothering us. Talk to your spouse, your family, and your trusted friends. We are taught to surround ourselves with people that make us better. Allow them to help.
Find Passion.
“Passion makes all things alive and significant.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is easy to advise someone to do what they feel passion for. It is much more difficult in practice. In many ways, life is set up to rob us of our passion. This is the key to breaking out of a rut permanently. Take your passion back and never allow it to leave you again. It is God’s gift and in it your purpose. Find it and keep it.
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What lifts your spirits when you are feeling down?”