I'm Free, it's weird!

I'm free!

Ok this is weird. I spent a large portion of my life, from childhood on, resisting structure. I always pushed against having to do anything at the same time, the same way, every day. Whether getting up for school ,or for work, I always pushed against routine. I just thought I was a person that wasn't cut out for that, and I found plenty of ways to avoid it.

Like being self employed for the last 25 years or so. I've mostly made my own schedule. I've often prided myself on creating the kind of life where everyday is different, but I discovered something this morning that surprised me.

I've had lots of conversations over the past couple of years about structure, routine, habits, putting your work or project in a container, and creating a "box" to work inside of. Miles Hanson Hanson and I even created an online community called "The Box, " out of a conversation we had on our podcast about needing structure.

We were talking about creating, and I shared something about how songwriting tends to go for me. Left to my own devices I won't do it very often. If you say to me, "Bill, write me a song," I may say yes, but it may never happen. However, if you say "Bill, I need a song next Tuesday about cactus, sunsets, and armadillo's, I'm on it!" I need a container. Some parameters. This is an area in which my habit of pushing against structure doesn't serve me.

We created The Box , so our members (and us) could create a container to get projects finished, and also experience the power of accountability and community. That's been great, and it's had me looking at the other areas of my life that could use a container, or that already have one.

A few months ago, when a friend asked me if I wanted to do a triathlon, I was torn. It's something I'd thought about doing in the past, but it was also a daunting prospect. As I thought about it, I realized that it would be a great way for me to build some new habits around moving my ass. After my first day of getting in a pool and swimming a few laps, I called my friend and thanked him for getting me back in the pool. It? felt great! I swam competitively as a kid, and getting back in the pool has been amazing. I wouldn't have discovered that without the "container" of a triathlon.

Back to this morning...

My son started back to school yesterday, so our house started back to the school year schedule we've had some version of since he started day care a decade ago. Dropping back into the morning routine, I felt free! I had a very unexpected sense of relief. So weird! This is the kind of thing I railed against for so long, but I found myself tired of the freewheeling "do whatever I want" hours of summer. I always welcome the break at the end of the school year, but I don't remember ever feeling so much space and peace by simply engaging back into the routine.

It's another way for me to look at the power of having structures for success. Whether it's how you create art, or music, or write, or work on a project, or just how you do morning, embracing a structure opens up a level of freedom. There's a whole part of the brain that doesn't have to worry about getting things done, or if it's enough. The "when" and the "what" are handled. That opens up space. In the space, I find peace and the freedom to just do whatever's next.

For example, my meditation practice starts to get pretty spotty at some point int he summer, and I always have this nagging worry about it in the back of my mind. When school starts again I have to get up at a consistent time and I have a routine. Take the dog out. Meditate. Make sure the kid is up. Make coffee. Journal. Feed the dog, etc...

Meditation stops being something I'm worried about not doing. It's inside of a structure. There's a box around it called "morning routine."

Now, if your one of those people that does routine easily, I salute you. This may all sound silly to you. However, when I have something I want to do, or get done, I know now that I need to put it in a box. Create some kind of a structure, no matter how simple, so that I can succeed in making it happen.

Who knows, if the routine of "back to school" made me feel free, what could a little structure do for you?

What structures do you have that serve you the best?