Resuming the Route

Photo by Kind and Curious on Unsplash

He has a good sense of direction so when there's a traffic back-up, he tries the back roads to get around it.  It doesn't matter that it doesn't eventually save any time, it's just the fact that he can keep moving.  Even though it takes just as long, and involves more miles, he feels satisfied that he is able to be "making progress" instead of sitting still in traffic on the interstate.  His wife has come to realize this is sort of his method of operation on road trips and sometimes, she will say, "Don't you want to just be patient and wait in out?"  But, most of the time, she just humorously asks, "Do you know where you're going?"  Undaunted, however, he revels in his achievement when he emerges triumphant in bypassing the back-up and gets back on the original route beyond the jam, and moving once again at highway speed.

Does this sound familiar?  I can speak so well of this scenario because this guy is me.  I think it may be a man thing, but maybe many of the females reading this can relate as well.  Sometimes my endeavors serve me well, and sometimes it gets me into a situation where I'm no better off than I was sitting in the creeping line of cars. Sometimes I get off the original route because I consciously choose to try a different route.  However, at other times, I missed a turn, requiring me to recalculate my route and ultimately losing time in reaching my destination.

The reality?...we all get sidetracked sometimes.  What do we do when it happens?  Just this week, for example, I missed publishing this post on Tuesday as I have been doing weekly all year.  You're seeing this post become available on Friday, three days later than usual.  How do I deal with that?  Maybe your'e thinking, "That's no big deal."  But, for some of us, just getting off track on even a little thing in life can cause our rhythms to be upset and we end up spiraling in some way.  This could be simple and short-lived in something as basic as a diet, or something as serious and impactful as an addiction.  So, here are a few principles I've learned that you may find helpful to recalculate your route if you get side-tracked.

Unhelpful Thinking
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• All or Nothing

This is the thinking that, if I can't do it all, I won't do it at all.  It can be a mindset that interrupts our flow when we get off track with something in life.  It is a mentality of lack of resource or lack of opportunity.  We may tend to think, "Since I've gotten off track, it is because I don't have the resources or opportunities to really maintain this process."  Of course, that could be true, but more often than not, it may be an excuse, or at least a short-sighted view of our reality.  Perhaps, this is where we need an outside perspective to help us realign with the reality of our resources and opportunities.

• Perfectionism Paralysis

This is a phenomenon that I have written about before when it comes to getting started...called the paralysis of analysis.  It can also keep us from rejoining our route if we have gotten knocked off course.  Thinking, in our analysis of the situation, that we've messed up and our record is marred, we are hesitant to restart.  That perfect stretch of success is no longer possible.  But, let's face reality, is anything in life a perfectly uninterrupted stream?  If you're like me, we are hard pressed to point to such a thing.  Don't let that keep you from getting back on the proverbial horse.

• Defeated Detour

This is similar to the two mindsets above, but is the ultimate outcome if we don't effectively deal with them.  We become defeated and discouraged.  That leads us to just quit, saying, "What's the use?"

Intentional Thinking

There is a better way.  It is to think intentionally, to look at things realistically and to give yourself permission to keep going without expectations that are irrational for yourself.

• Start From Where You Are

You really can't start from anywhere else.  You are where you are.  Growing up in church, I suppose the most-sung song at the response time of the service in my experience, was entitled, "Just As I Am."  That speaks of God's heart for us, as He calls us to Himself.  He doesn't ask us to get our act together before He will accept us.  He says to start where you are...come to me just as you are and I will take it from there.  That translates to the moments in life when we get off track as well.  We can't really be any place but the place we are, right?  Then, realize that is where you have to restart your course.  When playing golf, if my ball goes in the rough and out of bounds, I have to kick back in at that point.  It is not acceptable to toss my ball on the green and pretend that my bad slice never happened.  I take the stroke penalty, set into the fairway, and take my next swing.  We will overcome those detours in life when we accept that we are where we are, and just set up and take our next swing to advance toward the next "hole."

• Just Start

The first step is always the hardest.  That is true in so many things...starting an exercise routine, getting on a healthy diet, getting up earlier to spend time in the Word, etc.  When we have gotten off track with a particular rhythm in life, the best mentality is just, RE-START.   As Nike says, "Just do it."  Don't over-think it.  Don't make excuses.  Don't beat yourself up.  Get up, dust yourself off, and take the next step.

• It's Never Over Until It's Over

Getting sidetracked in something can be discouraging and cause us to consider quitting.  But, think about the possible things you will miss out on if you quit prematurely...experiences, growth, opportunities, relationships, impact...the list goes on.  We never know what lies around the next turn in the road of life.  If we don't get back on the route we were traveling, we will never know what we missed out on that God wanted to do in us, and through us, for His glory...remember that purpose thing we've been talking about?  So, remind yourself that it's never over until it's over.  New and exciting things await us as we continue to follow the path we've been shown.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
                     Galatians 6:9

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
                        Proverbs 24:16

How have you had to recalculate your course when sidetracked?  What unhelpful thinking are you most vulnerable to?  Are there strategies you can share to help others in this situation?  Share in the comments and like our posts.  We are so happy you are engaging in our community.