Stop Skipping the Sacred...

Have you been in a funk lately?

You know the kind, where everything feels a little off. Your motivation dips. Your energy disappears. The excitement you used to feel about work, relationships, even your calling…just fades. You feel more reactive than present, more exhausted than energized.

It doesn’t happen all at once. It starts small.

You hit snooze on your morning routine. You skip the stretch before your flight. You silence your soul instead of sitting in stillness. You stop walking. Stop reading. Stop drinking the water. Stop talking to God.

And for a while? You think you’re fine.

But slowly, silently, the weight creeps in. You feel disconnected, then discouraged, and eventually…you feel underwater.

You’re Skipping the Sacred

We often use the word sacred to describe the wrong things.

Our car. Our house. Our inbox. Our phone. Our schedule. Our to-do list.

But what if what’s truly sacred isn’t material at all? What if the most sacred things are the small daily habits that bring us back to who we were created to be?

What if the most sacred things aren’t loud or showy, but quiet, consistent rhythms that keep us grounded, aligned, and whole?

The sacred isn’t always sensational. Most of the time, it’s subtle. But it’s also essential.

And the moment you start skipping what’s sacred, your leadership starts to drift.

Sacred Rhythms vs. Reactive Living

Here’s the truth most high-achievers don’t want to admit:

Discipline isn't a luxury. It’s a lifeline.

Your sacred rhythms are the internal structure that holds up your external influence. And when you neglect them, even unintentionally, you begin to unravel.

I’ve learned this the hard way. More than once.

For me, there are a few non-negotiable sacred habits that, when honored, keep me centered:

• Waking up early—not to hustle, but to be still
  
  
• Stretching before I even stand—to prepare my body and mind
  
  
• A whispered prayer on the edge of the bed—giving the day to God
  
  
• Morning walks with Junie—prayers with every step
  
  
• Limiting screen time—so I don’t miss the life in front of me
  
  
• Reading and journaling early—before the world has a say in my thoughts
  
  
• Drinking water—because I’m not helpful to anyone dehydrated and foggy
  
  

These might seem small. Insignificant even.

But here’s the deal: when I skip them, everything suffers. My clarity. My patience. My leadership. My connection to others, and to God.

The habits we protect shape the leaders we become.

Leaders, You Can’t Lead Well on Empty

Leadership is heavy.

Every day, you’re carrying vision, decisions, meetings, strategies, problems, people, and pressure. You’re trying to cast vision, hold tension, build culture, give feedback, drive results, and stay grounded.

But you can’t pour from an empty soul. And you can’t fake presence when you’re absent from yourself.

Skipping sacred rhythms might not sink your leadership today. But over time? The cracks show.

• Your communication becomes more transactional than transformational.
  
  
• Your relationships feel shallow.
  
  
• Your creativity dries up.
  
  
• Your joy shrinks.
  
  
• Your leadership loses its spark.
  
  

The irony? Most leaders think the answer is more effort. But the real answer is often more alignment.

You don’t need another hack. You need to come back to what grounds you.

The Myth of Marginless Leadership

One of the greatest lies leaders believe is this: “I don’t have time.” We say it like a badge of honor. Like being constantly busy makes us more valuable.

But the truth? You don’t make time for sacred habits. You protect them.

You don’t wait for time to appear, you build your life around what matters. Sacred habits are not about productivity. They’re about presence. They’re not about performance. They’re about purpose. You don’t practice them to impress others. You practice them to remember who you are, and who you're becoming.

So, What Are Your Sacred Rhythms?

Let’s get painfully honest. What sacred habit have you been skipping lately?

Is it…

• Time in Scripture or prayer?
• A regular walk to clear your mind?
• A workout that gives you energy?
• A conversation you have with your spouse or mentor?
• An hour of solitude without a phone?
• A journaling practice that centers you?
• Bedtime without screens?
• Breathing, stretching, or just being still?

What small moment reconnects you to your calling, your Creator, and your capacity, and have you been skipping it?

Take 60 seconds right now. Make a list of the sacred habits that restore you.
Circle the one you’ve been missing most. Then make a decision: this week, you’re coming back.

Sacred Habits Make You a Better Communicator

You might be wondering, “Okay Jason, but what does this have to do with communication?”

Everything.

Because when you skip the sacred, you don’t just suffer—you stop showing up fully.

You start:

• Speaking more from stress than strength.
• Reacting more than responding.
• Listening less. Interrupting more.
• Performing instead of connecting.
• Losing your voice, or using it without intention.
  
  

But when you return to the sacred?

You:

• Speak with empathy.
• Listen with patience.
• Lead with clarity.
• Show up with peace.
• Make people feel seen, not sold.
  
  

Sacred habits don’t just make you feel better. They make you communicate better. Which makes you lead better. Which helps you live better.

Don’t Skip What Grounds You

Leadership without margin is just survival. But leadership built on sacred rhythms? That’s sustainability.

So today, I’m not giving you a to-do list.  I’m not telling you to go harder, faster, or longer.

I’m just inviting you to return to what grounds you.

Pick one sacred habit you’ve been skipping. Write it down. Recommit to it. Protect it like your leadership depends on it—because it does.

Final Thought: Make the Sacred Non-Negotiable

Every great leader I admire, every grounded, consistent, life-giving leader—has sacred rhythms they fiercely protect.

They don’t treat these moments as luxuries. They treat them as lifelines.

And I want that for you.

So the next time you’re tempted to skip the stretch…
…cut short the prayer…
…ignore the journal…
…delay the walk…
…scroll instead of reflect…

Remember this:

You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your habits.
And your habits will either pull you back to presence, or push you further into the fog.

What sacred rhythm are you recommitting to this week?

Drop it in the comments. Text it to a friend.  Share it with your team.

Let’s stop skipping the sacred, and start leading from it.

By Jason Raitz - CEO, Speak with People  With over 25 years of experience, Jason has spoken from stages across the country, inspiring and motivating his audiences with stories, laughter, and practical tools to succeed. Book Jason for your next conference or workshop.