Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the js_composer domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/ultimcb4/public_html/dev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131

Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the genesis domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/ultimcb4/public_html/dev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
Breaking the Rules

Lauren Grace Living

Archive

Breaking the Rules

Breaking freeI tend to live by a lot of rules. And I’ll admit that the sarcastic phrase she’s got a lot of rules for living totally applies to me. Over the past few years I’ve developed my own structure and rules to live by. Having a set of rules has helped me established some really healthy habits and keeps me on track towards my goals. I think anyone that knows me well would say that I am pretty disciplined. And perhaps a little too disciplined.

Here are just a few of my rules:

  • Meditate first thing every morning.
  • Journal every night.
  • Run at least 4 times a week.
  • Practice Yoga at least 3 times a week.
  • Lift weights at least 2 times a week.
  • Avoid eating gluten, dairy, meat, and processed foods.
  • No more then 1 cup of coffee a day.
  • No more then 2 cocktails a week.
  • Facebook post and tweet at least once every day (for marketing purposes).
  • Add up and record my expenses every evening.
  • Stretch every night before I go to bed.

I’ll stop there. I have more, but you would think I was crazy if I listed them all (if you don’t already that is).

These rules have served me well in many ways, but they also have limited me in many ways as well. Sometimes I feel exhausted trying to keep up with all the rules I’ve created for myself. Which is why on my last vacation I decided to break them all. I didn’t meditate or journal. I ate tons of gluten, dairy, and meat. I had at least 2 cocktails every night. Barely worked out. And I completely unplugged from social media all together. And you know what happened? I had a great time!

My life didn’t fall apart. I didn’t get sick, in fact I felt really good. And I didn’t feel any less centered, on the contrary I actually felt more peaceful and present. This was a huge wakeup call for me returning home. For the past few years I’ve been boxing myself in with all these rules. Yes I think it is super beneficial to meditate in the morning. However, when you make it a task, something you have to do, it can feel labor-some which is the exact opposite of how you want to feel when you meditate. Eating a healthy diet and keeping an active exercise routine is really important as well. But if you are never willing to bend the rules a little then you become that person at the party that’s asking if the dip is vegan, organic, and GMO free (yes I’ve totally been that person before). There have been many nights I stayed up way late just trying to finish some of the rules I had set in place, because God forbid I went to bed without writing in my gratitude journal. Instead of using my rules to help me run my life better, my rules were running me ragged.

Now while these rules have good intentions behind them I realized that they were also keeping me trapped and limited. By living a life made up of so many rules I wasn’t leaving any room for spontaneity and joyful moments. And I was being way too hard on myself! Whenever I didn’t follow through with one of my rules I would totally beat myself up and feel guilty. I was also becoming more set in my routine and less flexible, which just doesn’t work if you are an entrepreneur, or if you want to have a social life of any kind. With this realization I decided it was time to get rid of the “rules” and instead see them as helpful suggestions.

By turning them into “helpful suggestions” I create more freedom and flexibility in my life. Essentially I am establishing a nice guideline for myself, a loose structure to follow. I am still planning on meditating every morning, but if I wake up one day and I’m really not feeling it, then it’s ok to skip it. While I’m sure my diet will stay healthy I might actually have a piece of bread when I go out to dinner, and maybe even a slice of pizza now and then (now that’s me really living on the edge!). It’s just a simple change of vocabulary, but living by a guideline sounds a lot more open and flexible then living by rules. This will also open the door for a lot more spontaneity and hopefully a lot more fun in my life! And I would much rather be the girl who actually enjoys her life, instead of the girl who is known for being super disciplined.

Now it’s your turn. Have you been living by a set of  rules that are wearing you down? I double dog dare you to break your own rules this week. Go on, be a rebel! And get a taste of what freedom feels like.