There were many years when I lived in full time survival mode. People would ask "how are you?" My answer would always be "fine" with as much of a genuine smile that I could muster. Unfortunately for me living in survival mode had become so 'normal' that I didn't have any way to know that I was anything but "fine". This is where a dear aunt stepped in and said let me help you and help you see that you need to make some lasting changes before this lifestyle becomes the thing that breaks you. She was a strong advocate of helping me see the need for self care as it was clear to her I was self destructing right before her eyes.
It's true that taking small breaks can be helpful for relieving stress and allowing you to recharge. However, it's important to make sure that these breaks are restorative and not just a temporary escape from stress. If you go back to a high-stress or fast-paced lifestyle after a break, you may find yourself right back in survival mode.
To truly break out of survival mode and start living a more fulfilling life, it may be necessary to make more lasting changes to your lifestyle. This could involve finding ways to reduce stress, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing self-care. It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional as you work on making these changes.
Remember that it's okay to take things one step at a time and focus on small, manageable goals. With time and effort, you can find ways to reduce stress and live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
It's completely normal to feel like you're just surviving your life at times, especially if you're facing challenges or difficulties. However, it's important to remember that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, not just survived. Here are a few tips that may help you start living your life more fully:
- Set goals and work towards them: Having clear goals and working towards them can give you a sense of purpose and direction in life. This can help you feel more fulfilled and motivated to live your life to the fullest.
- Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things that you are grateful for can help to shift your mindset and bring more positivity into your life. This can help you appreciate and enjoy the present moment more fully.
- Spend time daily in the Word...the Bible...God's love letter written to us for our direction, comfort, correction, courage and delight.
- Seek support: If you're feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope, it can be helpful to seek support from your Heavenly Father through prayer, friends, family, or a mental health professional. Talking to someone about how you're feeling can help you process your emotions and find ways to cope with challenges.
- Take breaks and relax: It's important to take breaks and relax to recharge and refocus. This can help you feel more energized and ready to tackle the challenges of life.
- Engage in activities that bring you joy: Find activities that bring you joy and make time to do them regularly. This could be hobbies, sports, spending time with loved ones, spending time in nature, crafting or repurposing an item, or anything else that brings you happiness.
Remember that it's okay to take things one day at a time and take care of yourself. With time and effort, you can start living your life more fully and finding joy and fulfillment in your daily experiences.
Simple Pleasures Bring Joy & Contentment
There are many simple pleasures in life that can bring joy and contentment. These are small, everyday moments that can make us feel happy, relaxed, and fulfilled. Some examples of simple pleasures include:
- Savoring a delicious meal or snack
- Slowing down to brew a cup of tea
- Journaling 3 things you are truly grateful for
- Going for a walk or spending time in nature
- Diffusing your favorite pure essential oils
- Listening to music or playing an instrument
- Reading a good book or watching a favorite movie
- Spending time with loved ones
- Playing with a pet
- Reading God's word and dwelling on Zephaniah 3:17
- Engaging in a hobby or activity that brings joy
- Taking a warm Epsom Salt bath with relaxing essential oils
- Getting a good night's sleep
These simple pleasures can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere, and they can help us to feel more present, focused, and grateful. They can also provide a sense of balance and well-being, and can help us to cope with stress and challenges. By taking the time to enjoy these small moments, we lower our stress responses which can enhance our overall well-being and happiness.
Phillipians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 is a familiar verse from the Bible that my dad often quoted to me at various times when I was growing up. Well, he didn't exactly quote the whole thing but he would say "Whatsoever...." (King James) and I knew what that meant. Looking back I can see this was a little code word we shared. This verse encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This verse is often called the "thinking verse" because it encourages us to think about things that are positive and uplifting, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions.
The verse begins by urging us to focus on what is true. This means focusing on things that are real and authentic, rather than on falsehoods or deceit. We are also encouraged to focus on what is honorable, which means things that are morally upright and virtuous.
Next, we are encouraged to focus on what is just, which means things that are fair and equitable. We are also urged to focus on what is pure, which means things that are morally clean and unblemished.
Additionally, we are encouraged to focus on what is lovely, which means things that are beautiful and pleasing to the senses. We are also urged to focus on what is commendable, which means things that are worthy of praise and admiration.
Finally, we are encouraged to focus on what is excellent and praiseworthy. This means focusing on things that are of high quality and that are worthy of our attention and admiration.
I must admit that dad’s admonishment of this verse in my life has caused me to pause more than once before taking in a particular TV show or movie. There are many shows I would never consider to watch because they come with the rating of R or MA. I immediately know they will not fit into these parameters.
Science is now catching up to what God's word has told us....Your mind literally expands on 'whatever' you focus on. I'm very thankful to have been taught from an early age to focus on the above list. I believe it has made life so much better. What are you focusing on? You have a choice.
Philippians 4:8 is a verse that encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. By doing so, we can cultivate a positive and uplifting mindset that encourages good.
I hope you have the best day ever!
One of my greatest regrets as a mom is that I did not know better about chemicals in our environment that directly affects not only our body but also our brain health.
Let me tell you a story......
Once upon a time there was a mom who loved her kids with a fierce passion. This mom was very intentional regarding media and social influences on her children’s lives. She made healthy meals 'from scratch' to nourish her children. It was important to her to give her children the best life possible. Unbeknownst to her, lurking in the background, were a lot of chemicals (she had unwittingly bought and brought into their space) silently affecting the body and the brain of those living in this home.
In fact, each bedroom had its own chemical fragrance producing wallflower quietly pumping out toxins hour by hour, day after day as they studied, as they slept. After this mom would cook healthy meals, if there was residual food odor remaining, she would fumigate the children’s safe space with a few squirts of chemicals and in a breeze the food odor was gone. She was unaware that the chemicals lingered longer to be inhaled into the children’s unsuspecting lungs and were absorbed through the skin - both ending up in their blood stream where it affected their young bodies and developing brains.
This adoring mom happily washed her children’s clothes in Tide and popped them in a dryer with Bounce dryer sheets. One of her favorite things to do was to light a candle in the kitchen when the kids were home. Scenting the air with pumpkin spice or sparkling cinnamon just smelled like love.
Valentines Day prompted the purchase of pink, red and white M & M's for the kids so they would know she loved them. Easter morning there were always baskets of treats for the kids - Skittles, M&Ms, Doritos.
Birthday parties meant sodas and pizza for everyone. Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, Diet Coke.
Halloween through New Years meant ample opportunities for an increased amount of sugary candy, homemade fudge and caramel apples as well as sugary baked goods of Apple Pie, iced sugar cookies, Fudge brownies, and Cherry Delight. That usually meant less vegetables and water. She just didn't understand why 'the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' always seemed more like "Sick Season" filled with colds, flu's, sinus infections, strep throat, bronchitis for one or more family member. But never fear! Mom is here with all the OTC meds of Dimetapp, Sudaphed, Nasonex, Miralax, Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, Mucinex and Vicks Vapor Rub. If it really got bad she would use the humidifier WITH the Vicks Vapor Rub. And then there would be the Rx meds the doctor was eager to prescribe. Guafenisin, amoxicillin, Z-pack, a muscle relaxant - just in case - something to quiet the cough and codeine so you could sleep at night.
At Christmas she loved to lavish gifts on her kids, filling their stockings was so much fun! Bath and Body Works always had the best deals at Christmas! She loved getting the particular scent of the one they each preferred. Body wash, Body sprays, and Body lotions. Hand sanitizers in those cute little holders would make sure they were protected when they were out. And then there were the scented hand soaps. Candy cane at Christmas time pumpkin spice at harvest time, cherry blossom at Easter seemed to be a loving gesture towards her children. She wanted to give them more than the bar of ivory soap she had grown up on.
She loves her kids with a fierce passion.
#Sometimesoldwaysarebestways #marketingiseffective #noskullandcrossbonesonmarketingmaterials #believingitdoesnt makeittrue #sometimesmomoneyequalmoproblems
