We are, as they say “creatures” of habit, and we have a remarkable ability to develop and maintain patterns of behavior and function in way that allow us to get a lot done without much conscious thought. Because of this, much of what we do in a day ends up being more a matter of habit than it is of original, outward, radiant action.

There are many upsides to this manner of living, but there are also important downsides to consider. One of the most important unintended effects of living in this way is seen when rituals, sacred or otherwise, turn to rote. The original spirit of an activity, its beating heart – be it in prayer, writing a love letter, cooking a meal for one’s family, or even the simple act of saying good morning to one’s fellows – can easily be removed and replaced with a mechanical heart if you are not careful. There will always be a faster, easier way, in this busy world we live in, but expediency instead of integrity (to the original pattern of spirit) always brings failure.

When you do the things you do today think about the spirit with which you are infusing them. If you think about it, today you can simply play the tape of your reactions to the world around you and automatically respond to “A” with “B” so that you can move on to “C”, or you can give it a bit more thought and fill your actions with the deliberate, focused expression of a chosen spirit.

Give it a try and let me know what happens. I’d love to hear your experiences with it!