Image Credit: Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
I took a wonderful vacation week with my family. We spent most of the time outdoors in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. The minimal phone and internet contact refreshed my soul.
When I came home, I was grumpy for days. At first, I couldn’t figure out why when the time away had been so restful. Then I recognized reality had hit me hard as soon as I walked back in the door.
Illness and lonely deaths. Financial struggles. Storms and disasters. Injustice and hatred. Uncertainties. Limitations.
Anger. Discouragement. Fear. Desperation. Depression. The emotions wear me down.
So, I went back to thinking about perseverance, resilience, how to survive thrive in these crazy times. I went back – again – to some of the basics and am attempting to live them out. Maybe they will help you too.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Eat healthy foods. Drink plenty of water. Exercise. Sleep enough. I know. I know. We get tired of hearing this, but these elements are proven powerful for our well-being. It is a constant battle, but anything we can do to strengthen these habits will help us get through the hard times. It’s true.
- ACCEPT THE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
We are living through a never-before, stress-filled event that impacts every area of our lives. There are no quick cures and no easy answers. Recognize the emotions stirred up are real and valid and unpredictable and continuous. They WILL accompany us. There is no reason to layer self-criticism, shame, or condemnation on top of what is already a heavy burden.
Whatever amount of acceptance for human messiness (impatience, blahs, lack of productivity, weight gain) you have given yourself – it is not enough! ~ Juliet Funt
- SHARE HONESTLY
Safe and trusted friends and family can be an essential source of comfort, encouragement, and motivation when we can’t come up with those ourselves. It takes humility and courage to admit that we aren’t doing well and need help, but I have received enthusiastic, willing, even grateful-for-being-asked responses. Don’t isolate or hide your problems. We need each other.
- PRAY AND JOURNAL
I’ve learned to start each day with my hands open and a simple prayer asking God to show me what He wants me to do that day. I’m not great at it, but journaling (thoughts, day’s happenings, gratefulness) also has a way of giving me perspective and purpose in dreary days.
- TAKE TIME FOR THINGS YOU LOVE
For me, this means getting outdoors – getting glimpses of God’s unique animal and plant creations near our home. I’ve also taken up small-space gardening – herbs, tomatoes, and butterfly-attracting flowers. It does not have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. Small amounts of joy give energy to combat weariness.
- LEAVE SOME SPACE
As we go along, we learn how this new normal is affecting us. Back-to-back Zoom meetings are exhausting – we need less screen time, breaks between sessions, and Zoom-free days. Remember, we cannot do all things. Each “yes” to one thing is a “no” to something else. Say “yes” and “no” thoughtfully and intentionally.
I know the pandemic and its effects are dragging on longer than we anticipated. The weariness of the continual stressors drags us down. I write this for myself and with a hopeful prayer that it will give you lift for the days ahead.
If you feel comfortable, please let me know in the comments how you are doing. And if you have another helpful reminder for us, please share that too.
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Thank you for these reminders, Terry! Weary is the perfect word for how I ended the day yesterday and started this morning. And right away, my response to my weariness was frustration with my self because “how can you already be weary when we are just barely starting the semester?” It is good to be reminded that this is a hard season, I’m not exaggerating or being dramatic and my feelings and struggles as I live it are real. I don’t want to get stuck in the feelings, but I can’t pass them over or minimize them either.
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YES, friend. I think if I had one message for people in these days – other than Jesus’ love 🙂 – it would be to give yourself grace. I think we way under-recognize the weight of this crazy time and are over-harsh on ourselves. Hugs to you.
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Pingback: wading through weariness | Raymond L. Wheeler, DMin
Thank you for the re-blog, Ray!
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I’m struggling. I do feel weary. I’m on my way to the CoVid 19 weight gain. I’m on 17 lbs. I know what I should do but can’t get it together to do it.
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Oh, friend. I am with you! All I can do is give myself grace and do the best I can each day. I’ll pray for you as I ask God to help me. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Hugs to you. xxooxxoo
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Terry,
Thank you for sharing what you’re learning about life. I liked this part where you wrote: I’ve learned to start each day with my hands open and a simple prayer asking God to show me what He wants me to do that day. I wanna open my hands asking God to show me what He wants me to do every day.
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IT came from a book called “The Common Rule”. It is so simple but has made a big difference for me. Thanks so much for taking the time to read, Clau. Love to you and Dave!
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Thanks again, my friend, for your honest sharing. Especially relevant to me, a to-do list junkie, is the open hands prayer, so I do what is on His list for me.
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It’s so simple yet has been powerful for me. Thanks for reading, Jan. Hugs to you and Dean ~
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I echo so much of your starting point and crave so many of the pointers you give for thriving. Why is it so much work to give time to the things we need?? Thanks, Terry.
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Thanks for reading, friend. And for the compassionate, empathetic words. If you find out how to make the good choices easier, will you please let me know?
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Reblogged this on Leader Impact and commented:
Such simple, yet profound helps that really make a difference in our lives and leadership. These game-changing habits will help us get better, and when a leader gets better, everyone gets better.
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Thank you for encouraging me to post this… and for re-posting also. 🙂
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Leave space. I laughed out loud with that one. I have more time and seem to leave less space for these very significant activities you’ve mentioned. It’s so easy to fall into a rut of complaint and whining. I spend time with the Lord, and yet when things go south, so do I. Thanks for this reminder–you, my dear friend, are a true kindred spirit. Glad you had a wonderful time on your vacation.
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So very true, Dayle! I wondered how I could have less time to get things done in the midst of having more time at home!
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You and the rest of us, Maggie! 🙂
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It is crazy, isn’t it?! For some of us, life has supposedly “shut down” which would give us more time, but realistically we still struggle to use our time well. Specifically quiet, reflective, intentional, life-giving activities must still battle for space. It makes a big difference when we choose to make room for those things, though!
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