Let’s get this straight: stress management is a skill. Managing stress is something we learn either subconsciously or consciously. In some ways, how we manage stress is a form of protection. Stress management can either be healthy or unhealthy; it’s a matter of what we have learned. We’ve all heard that stress kills; friends, this is real. Let’s choose wisely in how we manage stress. You’ve got a lot of living to do; it’s time to hone in on healthy stress management techniques. We’ll talk about 5 of my favorite stress management tips to get you started today!
Stress management is a form of protection?
Stress eating, smoking, drinking, excessive exercising, scrolling, shopping, harming one’s body, are all forms of stress management that were learned at some point in life to calm the anxiety, worry, trauma, wounds, or events. That’s a mouthful, and that is what is going on every day around us! We grab whatever we can to numb the pain that targets pleasure points like taste buds, eye-candy, touch, anything that can raise endorphins higher than the cortisol levels. I think it’s safe to say, we’ve all been there. It breaks my heart that some of us are still there. But we don’t have to be, and there is a way out.
Control is what we seek. There is no shame in that. As naive children, when stressful situations arose, we subconsciously learned how to protect ourselves. Lashing out in anger, running away, crying, narcissism, or silencing ourselves are some subconscious ways of protection that kids use. Moreover, we likely learned other harmful techniques from influencers in our lives. The world says kids are resilient; the world is wrong. Do you know what resilient means? It means to recover quickly from difficult situations. Adults can’t even do this, and kids can? These deep wounds that kids/adults experience are profound, and they resurface from time to time, revealing all the ugliness. We have the ability to change all that!
Let’s learn some healthy ways to manage stress that can make a big difference in our lives and in our children’s lives. Kids learn from watching us. These techniques I’m about to tell you are simple things with a big impact. And no, it’s not expensive. Any age group can do these things. The hard part is breaking free from the conditioning you learned years ago, a few months ago, or even last week. We’ll talk about that in a little bit.
Fix it, please!
Here’s a small personal story to get you started. Years ago, I accidentally deleted my entire website. Yeah, ‘File Not Found’ stared at me in the eyes. My stress level went from zero to a hundred in a matter of milliseconds. Worry settled in, and in a matter of 60 seconds, anxiety took residency.
Furthermore, because I did my own website work, I couldn’t just call a web person and say, “Fix it, please!” All this hard work…GONE. The “undo” button or back arrow was pointless in this case. I tried it. Do you ever have times like these? When you ask yourself, “Why did I just do that? Did that happen?” Wishing there was an “undo” button?
It’s funny when these stressful mistakes occur, and we believe for a split second, maybe it will go away and fix itself if we just close our eyes. Tell me I’m not the only one who thinks this.
Hubby? Are you awake?
Above all, what really put the icing on the cake was that this website disaster occurred right before bed. Like sleep was going to happen! My brain was fried. Knuckles locked. Fingertips deaden. The courage to push the keys on my keyboard was in deep jeopardy. As a result, when I did find the strength to push buttons, I immediately checked my backup… it wasn’t working! My ears got hot and my gut started to cramp.
My husband was sleeping already…not that he knows anything about websites…but I needed someone by my side to listen to my predicament. When we “vent,” it’s like we release the problem from our minds. Perhaps the listener can relate to how to approach the subject. Talking it out with someone is very helpful.
When no one is there
Since my husband was sleeping, I didn’t want to disturb him; he has enough sleeping issues as it is. With no one available, I folded my hands and closed my eyes tight, “God, I’m freaking out. I made a mistake and I’m not sure how to fix it. Please help me dig deep and figure this out.” And then I prayed again. What I love about Him, is that He is always awake and available.
After giving it to God, I needed to do something else for a minute. All I wanted to do was escape, to get out of the room, away from the keyboard. In the black of the night, I slid on my slippers, grabbed a towel, and walked outside. The dark sky was peppered with pinhole lights. It was a welcoming reminder of how small my problem was and how big the world is. “Was anyone else in their backyard stressing out like me?” Probably.
As I folded my towel into a neat square, I anticipated sitting on it to just be. The shadowy trees surrounded me, but not in an intimidating way. No bugs, no noises, just stillness. I watched my breath let go. The quietness blanketed my shoulders. The earthy air filled my nose. I felt a peace embrace my soul. At that moment, God was telling me all was going to be okay.
Selective Perspective
The value of this stressful night revealed to me the power of perspective. If I didn’t get stressed out, then I wouldn’t have prayed, I wouldn’t have felt the nudge to go outside, I wouldn’t have encountered nature in its nightly glory, and I wouldn’t have experienced the healing powers of my backyard.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, spending even just five minutes around trees or in green spaces, like your backyard, helps lower blood pressure, reduces stress, improves mood, instills focus, accelerates healing, increases energy, and improves sleep.* And you wonder why I craved to get outside…
The article goes on to say, “Numerous studies show that… simply sitting looking at the trees reduces stress-related hormones.” Nature can heal and soothe the soul. Going outside isn’t just for kids to play in, but for us to pray in. You’re going to want to check out my post on Nature Quotes: the power of the outdoors.
Focus on the calm
Consequently, I know this is hard, but when you encounter a stressful situation, I challenge you to pause for a few minutes. To not reach for that quick fix of ice cream, smoke, or anger outburst. But to think, for just a second, about who you are, how you want to react, and to immediately ask Jesus for help. Do not let the Enemy have a foothold on you; he will rob, lie, and destroy. Jesus will rescue, protect, and lead you to the way everlasting. Period.
Let me remind you that God made you, He made your body, how it functions, and He knows how to manage stress healthily. Call on Him immediately, pause and listen, love yourself, and pray again. In doing so; you will gain a better perspective of the issue and will respond more wisely.
After a good 30 minutes, I wasn’t worried anymore. Whether I had to start from scratch or come up with a different solution, it was going to be alright. That night in my backyard, I stood up, shook my towel out, and walked back inside. My feet slid out of my slippers, and I went to bed. I actually slept.
5 Healthy Stress Management Tips
#1 Talk it out. Talk with a friend, family member, and/or Jesus.
#2 Pray without ceasing. Pray. Pray some more. Most importantly, pray in Jesus’ Name.
#3 Go outside and take a breather. Get outside! God made the outdoors. He’s out there waiting for you. Get by some trees and just be. Go in the rain, snow, day, or night, I promise you it will help.
#4 Rest to be your best. Take a nap or go for a walk.
#5 Repeat. Do this all again and again until it comes naturally when ugly stress visits. Retrain your brain.
My takeaway
The next morning, after a good night’s sleep, I got up extremely early to mend my mishap. With a well-rested body and mind, I was diligent in figuring this out. Hence, venturing into the back end of my website was scary but I succeeded and found an older backup. Thank the Lord! Later that day I took a long walk amongst the trees while being grateful for my state of being.
How to break free from the conditioning? As I said, this can be hard, but it’s 100% doable. Discipline yourself to go through the 5 steps above, retrain your brain to do these things. First and foremost, ask Jesus. He knows you better than you know yourself. Go to Him. Pray and ask how to do it. You may be surprised at how simple yet powerful it is.
Before you go, check out these other great posts on stress.
My top 10 quotes on challenges are peppered with encouragement, hope, and motivation. There is nothing so comforting to the soul than encouraging words. Quotes and inspirational sayings, young and old, impact our mental health. I’m sure you have infamous words of knowledge with hopes of being passed down through generations. I encourage you to bring light into people’s darkness with those sacred statements and with ones that got you through.
Word of caution!
This blog post is about quotes and how to face challenges, but before I share my favorite top 10, I offer a word of caution to your tongue. If you are not speaking kind words that are helpful and encouraging to the receiver, then SHUT IT, not just for their sake, but more so for yours!
Words and even quotes from the living and deceased can be destructive and lead you to believe numerous lies about yourself. Words go both ways, and the way we interrupt them can either help us rise or make us fall terribly onto a slippery slope leading to stress or away from our identity.
Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 (Bible, NIV)
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words shall never hurt me. This lyric was to help those who were being bullied. It’s unclear who said it, but it was recorded in March 1862. Boy did they have this wrong. Words do hurt a lot longer than a bruise from a stick. If only our hearts healed as quickly as a shiner to the eye.
Unfortunately, the most (not all) hurtful words come from people we love or respect. I’m sorry if you have experienced this. Remember hurt people, hurt other people. They have their own issues and, unfortunately, are taking it out on you. It’s unfair. There is no question. With that said, do not believe them. They don’t know you as God knows you. Instead, go to the Book of Truth to hear the truth about you.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
It’s time to destroy those meaningless words people speak and to plant words of purpose into your heart and soul.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Top 10 Quotes on Challenges
1. Look less at the mountain and more at the first step. For the first step can be harder than the whole journey.” – Christy Troy
2.We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons. – Jim Rohn
3. The best way to recover from rejection is to make someone feel accepted. – Christy Troy
4. The secret of change is to focus all your energy NOT on fighting the old, but on building the new. – Socrates
5.If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. – Martin Luther King Jr.
6. Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. – Joshua J. Marine
7. Our ability to handle life’s challenges is a measure of our strength of character. – Les Brown
8. Decisions are easy when values are clear. – Unknown
9. To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are. – Roy Bennett
10.Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try. – Michael Jordon
The Bible is not that scary
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There are no better words than what is in the Bible. The Book may be intimidating but it is the most liberating. It’s hard to know where to start. And it’s easy for me to tell you to start wherever. Personally, I started with shorter books like James, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Peter.
It’s also good to look in the Concordance at the back of the Bible and look up a word you may be struggling with, for instance, “love”, and then look up the verses that pertain to that particular topic. Most importantly, be sure to read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. So good! As for what version of the Bible? I personally like the NIV Study Bible.
Wrapping it up
Thank you God, for your Word, for it is filled with words to live by, with genuine love, protection, power, and instruction. Help us to have the desire to read and to do what we’ve read. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Remember, it’s words that form us, not sticks and stones. Keep shining your light. I believe in you. Seek the words you need to hear to help you move forward. Here are some printables to help you along!
Hold on to your apron for this amazing gluten-free no-bake cookie recipe with coconut! It’s one of the healthiest cookies for school lunches and after-school snacks! They taste so good, you wouldn’t even know it. These are easy to make and are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free. Learn the benefits of coconut, peanut butter, and more!
Cookies are one of my absolute favorite foods. So when I had to change my diet to gluten-free, you better believe I got a little depressed! Let’s face it, gluten-free cookies are not the same as chewy gluten-filled cookies. We gluten-free consumers need to work with what we’ve got!
What does gluten even do in cookies?
What gluten does for cookies is that it helps hold things together. There have been countless attempts to make the perfect gluten-free cookie. Problems arise when it crumbles in your hand and clumps up your mouth, along with an occasional crumb going down the wrong pipe. It boils down to the flour. Gluten-free flour can be tricky. In my kitchen, we have done a lot of experimenting! However, in this gluten-free no-bake cookie recipe with coconut, there is zero flour.
Easy Peasy Making
This is probably my favorite gluten-free savory cookie. On a hot summer day, the oven stays off. What I love about no-bake cookies is that you can easily make them camping or in a hotel room. These decadent cookies melt in your mouth and feel sinful to eat, but they aren’t!
Peanut butter has been around since 1904. It was introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair. It was used as a protein source in World War I and World War II.
Not only is peanut butter a good source of protein, but it also contains omega-3 fats. It is a good source of vitamin E, vitamin B6, manganese, and magnesium. Believe it or not, it also contains copper!
Peanut butter is good for your heart; it can help reduce the risk of diabetes, and it even has some anticancer properties.
Where to buy peanut butter
Get it on Amazon
The best kind of peanut butter to buy is organic. Organic peanut butter doesn’t have any added trans fats, sugars, or other hydrogenated oils. When those extra things are added to peanut butter, there are NO health benefits; in fact, it’s the opposite. Hydrogenated oils increase omega-6s, and when you get too much of a good thing (omega-6), it makes it bad for your body and may cause weight gain along with inflammation. Yikes!
Spend the extra money and buy organic! Organic peanut butter is simply organic peanuts and salt. Please read the labels on your peanut butter; it makes a huge difference. I personally like the Costco brand, Kirkland Organic Peanut Butter. Plus, I store my peanut butter in the refrigerator.
What’s up with Coconut?
Coconut is so incredibly healthy for you. These cookies have coconut oil, coconut milk, and organic shredded coconut. Coconut oil may be 90% saturated fat, but it has the highest content of lauric acid, which, in a twisted way, can help improve the level of lipids traveling through the blood. That means it is likely to reduce the risk of heart disease! That sounds pretty technical, but again, too much of a good thing can backfire, so pace yourself with coconut products.
15 Benefits of Coconut
1. It helps prevent heart disease and high blood pressure.
2. It can help treat Alzheimer’s.
3. It BE good for the old liver.
4. Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis
5. It’s antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral! Works well on cuts and skin issues.
6. Improves energy
7. It helps the gut heal by destroying bad bacteria and that nasty Candida (yeast overgrowth).
8. Prevents Osteoporosis by helping to increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium.
9. It’s Anti-aging. Now we’re talkin’!
10. It helps balance hormones naturally. Now we’re talkin’!
11. Thickens hair and helps with dandruff. It’s a natural
hair conditioner.
12. It helps improve sleep when consumed every day.
13. It can help with environmental allergies if you rub the inside of your nose with it.
14. Speeds up the healing of sunburn.
15. It’s an amazing oil to make homemade popcorn with. Just sub coconut oil in place of your other oil. Yum!
When buying coconut oil, get the Virgin, Unrefined. We get our coconut oil from Costco. If you don’t have a Costco Membership, no problem! You can get it on Amazon. I highly recommend this product.
Let’s get to the gluten-free no-bake cookie recipe with coconut!
Get all your ingredients out and ready to go. This goes kind of quickly!
Size a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper over a cookie sheet.
With a food processor or handheld pulser, process the oats with a few good pluses. This makes the oats easier to chew and digest. If you like the oats whole, skip this step.
In a saucepan, turn heat to medium and add the coconut oil.
Slowly add the maple syrup, honey, coconut milk, and peanut butter. Using a whisk, stir the mixture.
Add the peanut butter and continue to whisk. Then add the cocoa. Keep whisking!
Bring to a slow boil for 3 minutes, then remove from heat.
Stir in the oats.
Add the shredded coconut.
Using a spoon, scoop mixture onto the cookie sheet to desired size, cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator.
After at least 60 minutes, remove and put cookies in a baggie for storage in the frig. Or, simply enjoy your amazing no-bake cookies!
Notes
Calories are an educational guess, this depends on how large you make your cookies. I based the calories on a cookie the size of the palm of a hand or 3-inch diameter. If you want to cool the cookies faster, put them in the freezer for about 30 – 40 minutes.Store cookies in the frig. for up to 10 days. NOTE: I experimented with organic sugar cane instead of syrup and honey, and it didn’t work for me. While in the saucepan it became frothy and gave the cookies a grainy texture and burnt-like taste.
All in all
This gluten-free no-bake cookie recipe with coconut is a perfect 3:00 pm snack at work, after school, or even for breakfast. I’ve been known to eat one after a workout; it’s healthy, full of protein, and has just the right amount of carbs and benefits from coconut. Note: I have not tried these with almond butter or cashew butter, but I’m sure they would work beautifully. Enjoy!
Be sure to check out my other sweet treats!
All are gluten-free and dairy-free. Simple and delicious.
What is a road trip? A road trip can be spontaneous or well planned, it can be a short distance or a lengthy one. Road trips are simply a trip on the road. To make your road trip a smooth one, consider taking some essentials with you. What items are considered essentials? Ask yourself this: if I were to break down on the road, what would I need to keep moving forward?
Whether we’re going to Florida for Spring Break, heading to a campground across multiple states, or simply hopping in the car en route to the nearest metropolis, I’ve got a list you’re going to want to check…literally, check.
If you’re a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of cat, this post is not for you. But if you enjoy being prepared, but not overly so, this is the post you’ll want to pin, or better yet, download my Independent Road Trip Checklist. For more great free downloads, sign up for my Freebies!
Road Trip Essentials
1. Car Insurance and Registration
Check to make sure your car insurance and registration are current. There is nothing worse than getting pulled over in another State and you can’t find your registration, or it has expired. This happened to us. Ouch.
2. Sunglasses
Sunglasses! Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses for everybody in the vehicle. Not sure your dog needs them, but everyone else should have their pair. Simple yet essential!
Phone Charger/USB Cord. Now that paper maps are on the way out, and GPS on our phones is an essential app, make sure you don’t run out of phone battery. Need a USB cord? Check out this one from Amazon.
4. Umbrella
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Umbrella. Super important for your comfort and concentration, especially if you’re changing a tire in the rain. Been there, done that.
5. Blanket, but not just any blanket
Blanket. I always have a blanket in my car, specifically a Mexican blanket, because they are super warm and durable. Not only is it there for emergency slide-offs, but the dog can sit on it, the kid and use it, or you can sit on it for extra cushion. One of my favorites of the top road trip essentials.
6. Water
Water. Do not get dehydrated. I know, you don’t want to stop and pee. But you also don’t want a splitting headache, dizziness, or brain fog from not drinking enough fluid. Fill your water bottle up and plan your potty stops.
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7. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer. I have three words for you: Rest Stop bathrooms. And if you really want extra comfort, bring a face mask into the bathroom; it helps block the smell. On my last road trip, I forgot the face mask and tried holding my breath in the bathroom stall… not a good idea.
Get it at Amazon
8. Emergency Kit
Roadside Emergency Kit that includes Jumper cables and a First Aid Kit. There is nothing worse than feeling helpless in a strange area, especially if it is dark. Be safe and get an emergency roadside kit; this is definitely one of the best road trip essentials. We have one in every vehicle. Here is a kit that is easy to use. Check it out here on Amazon.
Get it at Amazon
9. Portable Air Compressor
Portable air compressor. I love this thing. Not only does it help with tire pressure, but if you’re camping it’s great for basketballs, air mattresses, and beach floats. This has been so handy on the road and off! A portable air compressor is the way to go. No more searching for air!
10. Towel. Don’t use your blanket.
Towel. Unlike the blanket, the towel is great for unexpected spills or a quick dry-off running through the rain…when you don’t want to bother with your umbrella. It’s also great for Fido to sit on.
11. Tissue.
Tissue. I can’t count the number of times I’m using a tissue to blow my nose. Make sure you get some before you leave the house. Napkins or even a roll of toilet paper work well. Another good one to add here is butt wipes, need I say more?
12. Snacks.
Snacks. This is essential. Snacks save you money, and they save you from gorging on your next meal. Some great road trip snacks include trail mix, grapes, cereal mix, popcorn, meat sticks, protein bars, pretzels, or celery sticks.
Paper and pencil/pen. As a passenger, I’m always thinking of my to-do list or my next great idea. Have paper and pen ready to jot down your thoughts.
14. Games!
Road Trip games. If you have kiddos and don’t want them to get tech-neck, grab a few games. Of course, the Alphabet game is super fun for everyone. There are three versions. The classic version is to find the letter of the alphabet in any form. The second is more challenging: find a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet…good luck on Q and Z. And the last version is to find an object that starts with the letter…this is super hard. Don’t forget to add the Corn on Cob Song Fun to the trip!
15. Snow Scraper and Mini Shovel (weather dependent).
Depending on where you are going, you better throw in a snow scraper, a mini snow shovel, and a small bag of kitty litter. When I was in college and traveling out to Colorado, I always had my portable mini snow shovel in my trunk, and I used it! You never know when you’re going to hit black ice and end up in a snowbank or ditch. Mini snow shovels work a lot better than your hands!
Get it at Amazon
Get it at Amazon
16. Weapons!
Get it at Amazon
Weapons. Yep. I said it. At least carry a pocketknife or pepper spray, heck, get a taser. A pocket knife is good to have on hand for lots of reasons. Pepper spray buys you some time, as does a taser. As for handguns, it depends on your opinion of them, where you’re going, knowing what States allow them, having your permit, and understanding the safety of them. Be smart, not stupid.
Wrapping up road trip essentials
That does it! It sounds like a lot, but it isn’t. Most of the stuff is already in your vehicle. It’s always best to be prepared, rather than getting stuck and depending on some creepy person. The best advice I have to offer any road tripper is to simply be aware of what’s going on around you. Pay attention to the road, know what’s happening around you when you make a rest stop, and be safe. Use that head of yours at all times!
Be sure to download my free Independent Road Trip Checklist, for more great (and free) downloads join my e-mail list and you’ll have access to all my freebies! Get access to my Freebies here.
The pace of life is unsustainable. Do you find this statement true? Technology is moving so quickly, it’s hard for the tech-savvy to stay on top of it. How about that statement? Social media is ridiculously distracting, addictive, and toxic that unless firm boundaries are in place, it will consume you. What about that statement? Quick fix is our motto. Facts?
People wonder why anxiety levels are high, stress-related health issues are surfacing, and generations are getting lazier and lazier. Let’s face it, this world we live in thrives on stress, and it’s literally killing every part of us, turning ourselves against each other, and being fully distracted from what really needs to happen. So, how do we function in a fast-paced world and remain focused on what really matters?
5 tips on how to pace yourself
Tip #1. Get grounded
This is not sitting with your legs crossed, touching your fingertips together and humming…absolutely not what I’m talking about. Many people use the word grounding for different purposes. In this case, grounded means to be present and to keep things in perspective.
Simple ways to remain grounded are:
Journal. Vent on paper rather than in someone’s ear. Journaling also helps you process things that are distracting your mind. It’s important to not just complain in your journaling but to also write about good things. Doodling and poetry are beautiful things to put in your journal. It’s incredibly healthy. Many people I know have a prayer journal in which they date their prayers and then date when the prayers were answered. If you need help getting started I have somejournal prompts to help you.
Get outdoors and walk in nature.I have many posts about how nature heals and rejuvenates. Being in the outdoors helps you be grounded. If you have access to a park filled with trees, I highly recommend you spend some time there. Here are some great nature quotes to get you motivated. With that said, let’s talk about bare feet.
Earthing. Earthing is essentially being barefoot outside standing on the ground or in a body of water. There are a few books on the benefits of earthing primarily due to the electrons in the earth and how it all works through the body. Earthing is quite interesting. I’ve tried it, and it definitely forces you to slow down. For me, it brought back memories of playing outside, good stuff. You’ll have to test this out yourself.
Don’t forget these two other ways to be grounded:
Give yourself a time-out. Take some me-time and protect that time. Do filling activities and leave the draining activities for another day. Do not allow the world to make you feel guilty for taking an afternoon off, or even a couple hours. Turn off your phone, get outside, and journal.
Do something productive in which you can see results. Accomplishing tasks feels good. To feel more grounded get something done! Some examples include: vacuuming the house, cleaning the garage, doing the dishes, painting a wall, mowing the yard, and just doing something where you can see the results from your work.
Tip #2: Pray daily
Prayer is the most important action you can do to manage your pace in life. Think about what truly matters in this world. Everything else is meaningless… read the book Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Ask Jesus to give you wisdom in your time management, for him to reveal to you what is yours to do and to release everything and everyone else to you…this short prayer is from author, Holley Gerth. To learn more about prayer, check this post out.
Tip #3 in pacing yourself: Distractions
Nip distractions in the butt. There are LOADS of distractions and they come in many forms and from many people. No one cares about your time, they only care about their time. Be aware of manipulations and the false emergencies that people make you try to believe. We’ll talk about boundaries in the minute. Ask yourself if this person is in need of attention? Is this their agenda they are pushing on me? Do they really need help right now? If you answered ‘yes’ to the first two questions then that is a distraction.
Take a break from scrolling. This is a total and complete distraction and the Devil is loving it! If it’s that important, you’ll hear about it. Don’t get sucked into your phone, you’ll never keep up. Never!
Tip #4: Know where you’re headed
What do you really want? Understanding what you want will help you pace yourself! Write some ideas down in your journal and draw up a small plan to accomplish at least one action towards that goal every day or at least every week. Working towards what you want in life step by step is massively important! This not only, helps manage your time, but it’s an activity that fills you up versus draining you. Ask God to help you, guide you, and how to glorify Him. When you really think about it, there is nothing more important than Jesus. Please ponder that. You can find how to set goals in my freebies.
Tip #5 in pacing yourself: Set boundaries
Stand firm with your boundaries. If you’re a “yes” person, start practicing saying “no”. This is critical in your peace and pace of life. You are not a doormat. You are not someone’s servant. They are no more important than you are. Wealth and fame don’t matter, and don’t allow the people who have it control you or manipulate you.
Wrapping up how to pace yourself in an accelerating world
Let me just say it, Satan does not want us to be focused. He wants to steal every waking minute, let alone pop up in our nightly dreams. He will poke us, lie to us, and get in the middle of our relationships to divide us. Stand firm next to Jesus, who owns this victory and always will. For more about spiritual warfare check out this post.
When you feel attacked, praise God for good things, thank the Lord for good things, say Bible scripture out loud, command in Jesus’ name for evil to flee, and sing songs of praise. The Devil hates these things and by doing these things in Jesus’ name we can overcome darkness.
I got a little spiritual with this last paragraph, hang with me. If we want the world to change, we need to start with ourselves, then family, community, and so forth. It starts with you. Do more than exist friend. Now is the time.
