Going was against my nature.

I’m a creature of habit. I love ritual and routine. I thrive in it. There are many benefits to this trait, like efficiency, productivity and stress reduction. But there are downsides too, like stagnation, missed opportunities and reduced creativity.

One day during a recent trip to Vancouver to visit my daughter and work on my upcoming novels, I woke to a sunny morning, a rarity in rainy October. I had planned, as is my habit, to spend the morning writing. But the sunshine reminded me of a park my daughter, a fellow hiker, suggested I try while in town.

I was torn. The “stick to the routine and be productive” side of me urged me to stay in and write. The “seize the opportunity” part of me, normally the weaker of the two, urged me to be spontaneous and go explore. Knowing spontaneity is a growth edge for me, I put on my hiking shoes and headed out the door before I could talk myself out of it.

The park was glorious. Lush greenery. Ancient, towering trees. A wide, rushing river. A thundering waterfall. A suspension bridge spanning a gorge. I was entranced as I moved slowly along the trail, soaking in the fairyland environment.

And then it happened. I saw an unusual stone. Then a strange pattern in the roots of a tree. Then a wide pool at the mouth of a cave. My author mind started firing madly, ideas for a story flowing one after the other. Over the course of the next hour, I took dozens of photos and sent myself fifteen emails of notes. By the end of the hike, I had the rough outline of a new book. I returned to our Airbnb charged with energy to write.

My routine nature serves me well. I’m glad for it. But that experience in the park reminded me to be open to breaking my routine when opportunities present themselves. I know not every choice to “seize the day” will produce such a flurry of creativity, productivity and energy, but I’m equally certain that I’ll miss many of those gifts if I don’t put myself in a place to receive them.

So how about you? Are you a creature of habit or do you lean toward the spontaneous side? Is your growth edge developing better structures or being more flexible? Embrace the benefits of your natural bent. Be intentional in developing your “flip side.” If you do, you’ll experience a richer, more engaging and productive life, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.