Have you ever been in a relationship that started to go south?
Of course you have. So have I. Plenty.
And what do we do when we’re no longer having fun with someone, when it starts to feel like work?
We decide we need to work harder.
Huh? How does that make any sense?
We do the same thing with Spirit. We feel distant, cut off, separate and we conclude the best thing to do is to make a commitment to a spiritual routine. We’ll meditate for twenty minutes a day. Or we’ll get some books by Caroline Myss and Ekhart Tolle.
Except we hate meditating. And Myss and Tolle bore us to tears.
Just like that relationship that was nearing its last gasp, what’s needed here isn’t more work.
We need to be having more fun.
Spirit would love to go for a walk with us. Or sit on the beach. Or take the dog to the dog park and watch all the puppies. Or do a jigsaw puzzle.
Forcing ourselves to meditate is like doing Spirit’s laundry. Guess what—Spirit can do its own laundry (just like our ex could but we took it on because… Why did we take that on?)
Think of how a relationship starts. We sit and talk and laugh with someone. We try axe throwing or a new restaurant or painting pottery. We see how much we have in common. We delight in our differences, too—not so that we can change to be more like the other person but because we enjoy how who they are combines with who we are.
So if you’re feeling like your connection to Sprit could use a boost, take yourself out on a date with Spirit. Go somewhere you’ve been wanting to go. Some place fun. Spirit doesn’t want to be solemn any more than you do. Spirit doesn’t love misery and would prefer that you not feel miserable.
Make a key lime pie. Go to the zoo and watch the sea lions. Sit outside and enjoy the sunset, just you and Spirit.
You can make dates with Spirit a regular thing. But only if it never feels like a chore.