When Your Spiritual Practice Slips (and How to Find Your Way Back)

Let’s be honest: sometimes meditation feels like a chore, journaling turns into another item on your to-do list, and suddenly your spiritual practices vanish like socks in the dryer.

Here’s the thing—this doesn’t make you a “bad” spiritual person. It makes you human. Even the most devoted seekers hit seasons where practice doesn’t stick.

If that’s you right now? Take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re in a very human part of the spiritual journey.

Why We Fall Off (Beyond the Obvious)

Yes, life gets busy and distracting. But underneath that, resistance often carries a deeper meaning:

• Avoidance of what’s stirring. Sometimes the practices we know would bring clarity also threaten to surface emotions we’d rather not face.

• Old stories of worth. If you grew up in “do more, achieve more” culture, sitting still in meditation can feel unproductive—and your inner critic loves to remind you of that.

• Energetic upgrades. Periods of spiritual “flatness” often show up right before expansion. Your system might be recalibrating to hold the next layer of light.

So, when your practice disappears, it’s not always laziness. Sometimes it’s a sign that you’re shifting.

A Personal Example

Recently, I caught myself avoiding meditation for days. Every time I thought about sitting down, I found something “more urgent” to do—cleaning house and paying bills suddenly became very exciting.

Eventually, I stopped and asked, What’s underneath this resistance?

What I found was an old story, one where if I didn’t hustle, didn’t fill all my moments with things from my ‘To Do’ list it meant I wasn’t good enough.  My soul was nudging me toward growth, but part of me wanted to run. Once I named that, even five minutes of sitting in meditation or writing in my journal felt lighter.

That’s the thing—falling off doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means there’s something to listen to.

Spiritual practices are always waiting for us to resume like the old friend they are.

Practical Ways Back In

1. Start with the doorway that feels easiest.
   If meditation feels impossible, journal. If journaling feels like pulling teeth, try mindful walking. Don’t force one path—find the one that feels open.

2. Use micro-practices.
   One deep inhale and exhale before you open your email. Noticing the texture of your morning coffee. Writing down one thing you’re grateful for. These micro-moments add up and rewire your awareness.

3. Change the container.
   If you’ve always journaled at night, try the morning. If you always meditate on a cushion, try outside. Sometimes practice doesn’t need discipline; it needs novelty.

4. Reframe success.
   Success isn’t “I did 30 minutes every day.” Success is “I chose to connect—even briefly.” The quality of presence matters more than the quantity of time.

The Balance We’re Really Seeking

Strive for balance between spiritual practice and daily life.

Here’s something I’ve noticed in my own journey: when we step away from spiritual practices to focus on daily life, our soul doesn’t abandon us. There’s always a deeper part of us that’s still connected, still holding the fort, quietly keeping the flame lit.

We can’t spend all our time floating in meditation, nor can we thrive by being only rooted in the physical grind. Like a pendulum, our focus naturally swings back and forth. The real challenge—and the real gift—is learning to find the rhythm between the two.

Your spiritual practice isn’t meant to replace your physical life. It’s meant to support it, to weave soul and body together. When you see it that way, even the seasons where you feel “off” are part of the dance.

— Try This Right Now —

Grab a piece of paper or open your notes app and ask:

“What does my soul need right now?”

Write down the first three words that come. Then do one thing, however small, that honors one of those words.

That’s a spiritual practice—simple, direct, powerful.

 Journal Prompts for Reconnecting with Your Practice

• What am I avoiding when I avoid my spiritual practice?

• How do I want my practice to feel in this season of life?

• What is one small, doable way I can connect with my spirit today?

• What practices have nourished me in the past that I may want to revisit?

• If I set aside guilt, what would “enough” look like for me right now?

Small moments to pause, breathe and resume our spiritual practices are ever present and don’t need to be elaborate or complex.

The Bigger Truth

Falling out of practice isn’t failure—it’s feedback. It’s your soul saying: something needs to shift. The real work isn’t forcing yourself back into the old routine, but listening for what your spirit is asking for now.

Your spiritual practice isn’t a punishment or a performance. It’s a relationship. Relationships ebb and flow, and they grow when you show up honestly.

So, if you’ve fallen off, don’t guilt yourself into “shoulds.” Instead, let curiosity lead you back.

And if you want a space that makes it easier to show up, join me for a group meditation. Sometimes all we need is a container and community to remind us of what we already know: the path is always here, waiting for us.

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