Unless you’re a music aficionado, you may not be familiar with this word. It was a new one to me until recently.

An ostinato is a repeated rhythm or pattern that runs throughout a piece of music. The word comes from Italian and essentially means “obstinate” or “stubborn.”

Think of it as a pattern that persists while everything else changes around it. Like a constant bass line that keeps playing, whatever the melody is doing.

We all need patterns in life that need to function like an ostinato. Things we’re stubborn about because we know they’re essential to staying healthy in faith and leadership. Habits and practices that stay on repeat, even while our circumstances and situations constantly change.

These could include spiritual practices such as prayer, silence, Scripture, fasting, retreat, Sabbath and community. Physical practices such as rest, play, feasting and exercise. And practices for the mind, like reading, reflection, learning and creativity.

The point is that these practices need a stubborn, repeated rhythm so that they become a constant anchor for our lives.

Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Quarterly. Annually.

For example, this past month (as we always do at this time of year: another ostinato commitment), my wife Amy and I have diarised our rhythms of rest, leave and connection for the whole of 2027, including:

• All our annual leave (for us: March, June, September and December)
• A weekly day off (a full 24 hours, non-negotiable. My Spiritual Director would kick my ass if I didn’t!)
• At least one midweek evening kept free to chill
• A weekly date night, where we’re a little more intentional about connecting

I’ve learnt the hard way that if these ‘big rocks’ don’t get booked in the diary well in advance, work and ministry will eat up my schedule (which then runs the great risk of eating my soul. A recipe for burnout!)

So, how’s your ostinato doing?

Remember, you don’t stay the course through occasional acts of extraordinary discipline. You stay the course through ordinary rhythms repeated faithfully over a long time.

Be stubborn about it!

And as you think about your own ostinato rhythms, why not build in a monthly hour with other business, church and charity leaders for encouragement, support, wisdom and prayer? You don’t have to lead alone. Click HERE to find out more.