Wow! Yesterday’s article brought forth such good discussion on the subject of rhythm and schedule! Check out the full convo at RHYTHM OVER SCHEDULE.
In developing my thought process on the subject of life rhythm and scheduling life I thought it might be helpful to use an analogy here….
RHYTHM IS TO SCHEDULE AS MUSIC IS TO MATH.
MATH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MUSIC BUT MATH BY ITSELF IS NOT MUSIC. CONVERSELY MUSIC WITHOUT MATH IS JUST DISORGANIZED SOUND.
In order for music to be music there must be intentional variation in pitch (speed of vibration) and intentional meter and rhythm which comes by counting out the pace of the notes. But there is something else music possesses which is harder to quantify. That is the spiritual/ emotional connection with the human soul. Music is more than just pitch and rhythm. It is heart. It is connection. It is divine spark.
IN LIKE MANNER SCHEDULING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE RHYTHM BUT SCHEDULING BY ITSELF IS NOT LIFE RHYTHM. CONVERSELY LIFE RHYTHM WITHOUT INTENTIONAL SCHEDULING IS JUST A COMFORTABLE WAY OF LIVING DEVOID OF CREATED PURPOSE .
Our life rhythm is the pattern of living that taps into our giftedness from God. So in order to tap into our divine gifts we need to intentionally schedule the pattern of living that draws them out.
What I learned, was that just having a schedule planned out according to my life roles did not necessarily mean I was tapping into the divine giftedness God had planned for me. My mistake in scheduling was that I allowed others to define my life rhythm by placing their expectations upon me. I let other people tell me what my role in the world was. I scheduled my life only according to what other people required of me. I was not strong enough to assert my own rhythm. I was not strong enough to say “no” when the expectations of others led me away from the life rhythm which fed my soul. I was like the tiger above…filled with all kinds of power but not using any of it.
So about three years ago I began to create a schedule which served my life rhythm rather than making my life rhythm serve my schedule. I view my rhythm as a cycle or a circle….like a clock. The rhythm is divided into seven sections: prayer (this is the first section of the cycle and for my giftedness to be released the most important), physical activity, rest, writing, work, relationship, and study (this is the final section of the cycle and for my giftedness to be released I think of it as second in importance).
Just like on a clock you cannot go to the second hour without making it through the first hour. So in my rhythm I cannot go onto physical activity without first praying. On the other hand I cannot jump from work into prayer without first spending at least some time in relationship and study.
Is this the right way to do it? Honestly, I don’t know if there is A RIGHT WAY of scheduling or living according to a life rhythm, but it is the way I have found that works for me in this moment.
SO TELL ME HOW YOU SCHEDULE OR WORK ACCORDING TO LIFE RHYTHM.
