Reconnecting with Spirituality in Tough Times

Losing Your Way

December was a rough month. Don’t get me wrong, in the grand scheme of things, I am absolutely blessed, and I had to keep reminding myself of that the entire time. However, sometimes when stress, the insanity of the world, the relentless routines, and everyday responsibilities pile up, it’s easy to lose your way and fall out of your spiritual routine. That was my December.

I started a new job, had to fly across the country with very little notice, and dealt with some family health issues that required me to drive more than usual. On top of that, I was sleeping on a couch under the watchful eye of a very rambunctious puppy who, while adorable, didn’t understand that humans need several hours of sleep to function. Chewed-up wet socks to the face at 2 AM were not exactly appreciated.

As a result, I found myself slipping into survival mode. And do you know what I’ve realized about myself in survival mode? I forget everything I know about my spirituality and self-care. I stopped meditating, skipped my morning spiritual practice, ate poorly, and didn’t exercise. Unsurprisingly, I got sick—physically, spiritually, and mentally. I felt awful. I had to force myself to feel gratitude and lost sight of the fact that everything wasn’t happening to me but for me.

What did I do? At first, nothing. But eventually, when I had time to breathe and reflect, I took it for what it was. I didn’t beat myself up about it. After all, we are human. And if you believe as I do, the human experience is about taking this physical body on the soul’s journey back to God and the infinite love of the Universe. As humans living the human experience, we’re going to fall. Each fall gives us the chance to rise and learn.

So, what did I do first? I dropped to my knees and prayed. I didn’t dive headfirst back into my spiritual practice but slowly waded in, inch by inch, like stepping into a frigid Lake Michigan on the first lake day of the season. At first, the water is freezing, but eventually, it feels like bathwater. That’s how I returned to myself.

I asked for help. I began meditating again, starting with just a few minutes each day to ease back into my routine. I made healthier choices for my body. Every day, I added something new to help me reconnect with myself. I wrote in my gratitude journal. At first, it was just a line or two, but after a week, those entries grew to fill a page. I made time to care for myself while continuing to care for others. And slowly but surely, I started to feel better—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Even though this lingering holiday sickness still has me wondering how it’s possible to have so much congestion, I’m on the mend.

The key takeaway here is the old mantra: progress, not perfection. A lot happened to disrupt my normal routine, and in the past, it might have knocked me down for a very long time. This time, it was just a matter of weeks. I am so thankful that I had my spiritual practice to fall back on. Even though it wasn’t prioritized for a while, it was still there, and my soul remembered. That foundation helped me get back on track and set plans to make 2025 my best year yet.

I am committed to becoming the best version of myself. I’m not perfect and never will be, but that’s not the goal. Instead of comparing myself to others, I’m comparing myself to past versions of me. Recognizing both my growth and my potential is incredibly empowering. Here’s to progress, resilience, and the journey ahead.