“Let’s stop living at a frantic pace if our hearts are pulling us to a slower, more focused way of life. Let’s start honoring our own needs for rest, self-care, and balance. Let’s recommit to our own vision and finally listen to the voice inside.”
Erica Layne
Happy Monday!
I’m laughing to myself a little as I write this. I’m a huge proponent of slowing down, resting, self-care, and listening to the inner voices that guide and direct us, and I refer to and suggest the same frequently. Yesterday, my older daughter noted that as much as I offer suggestions to my clients, it’s funny how I don’t follow my own advice to get a handle on my health issues.
I’ve fallen into the slump that so many of us face by overworking and not getting enough exercise and fun in my days. So, today, we will have a little refresher course to benefit both you and me. Let’s call it Stop, Start, Recommit 101! And let’s base the lesson on this very appropriate quote from Erica Layne, author of The Minimalist Way: Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy:
Stop. The crux of this first application is to listen more closely to our desires to live a less frenetic life. This step involves listening to our hearts, minds, and bodies to hear what’s really happening. Our emotions are all over the place. We’ve precious little patience and can volley between anger and depression in a snap. It’s time to slow down, meditate, and find fun things to do – and do them.
Our minds need a break from the constant stress that we subject ourselves to. It’s really okay to reorganize our day to accommodate some time for doing nothing. We all need a break in the rigors we so desperately hold on to for a mental pause. That means doing things like not working through lunch but scheduling time to sit and mindfully enjoy our food and, perhaps, some pleasant conversation with a colleague.
Are you experiencing adrenal fatigue or challenges with cortisol levels? Due to our never-ending to-do lists and unforgiving schedules, the answer is probably yes for many of us. It’s important to include movement of some kind. It could be a walk or any other physical activity that helps balance our daily lives.
Start. Honor is a holistic buzzword that seems elusive for most of us regarding our needs. We try to be altruistic in honoring others but seldom apply a similar strategy to ourselves. We know what rest, self-care, and balance mean and, if you’re like me, are the first to point out the need to others. But what about applying the same principles to ourselves?
Rest and self-care go neatly together to create balance. Think of a pendulum swinging left and right. At the most significant points, the pendulum is at opposite ends ~ rest and self-care v. exhaustion and neglect. When the pendulum finally settles in the middle, there is balance.
Recommit. Ah, my favorite part. It is time to consider our vision and goals, the things we set out to accomplish. Those audacious dreams and plans that enable us to find our purpose.
When we heed the inner voices that draw us to be bold and fearless, we begin to reignite the excitement we once felt and renew a zeal for all life has to offer. Think of a time when we were so sure of our successes that we didn’t entertain the ideas of failure, fear, or disappointment. We can have that again by creating new strategies. After all, we’re wiser now (notice I didn’t say older – lol) and are more aware of the pitfalls!
Psalm 37:4-6 is a great Scriptural passage that underscores the help we have when we listen to our inner voices and seek to make changes in our lives:
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noonday.”
So, what do you say? Are you ready to make some radical changes? Does the notion of allowing your emotional, mental, and physical wellness a chance to reset sound enticing? Are you ready to recommit to some of the ideals you entertained before your life got so complicated? If the answer to these questions is yes, create time in your schedule to take action. There’s so much joy awaiting us ~ let’s not miss the opportunity!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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