“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3
I cannot pour from an empty cup.
The worst thing we can do to ourselves is not listen when the body and mind is crying out. When you need food, your stomach will start to tell you by growling. When you need sleep, you might start yawning. But there are some other tells that your body is out of sorts and I wonder if you’re interpreting the calls correctly. Headaches, body aches, irritability… these can also be signs that you need water, nutrition or sleep. But did you know that these can also be symptoms of anxiety? And depression? The body knows when it’s out of whack and it’s important that we listen when it speaks.
But we don’t always do that do we? Especially when it comes to our mental. We’re quick to push down what doesn’t feel right for the sake of saving face. Yes, I called it saving face. You see, you may be telling yourself that it’s because you have people counting on you at work, or the kids need you, or your boss will have a fit if you don’t get it done. But are you really working yourself to the bone because of all these other people… or is it because you don’t want them to look at you a certain way if you don’t. Think about what I’m saying. If you tell these people you need a moment for you, what are you afraid the response is going to be? Are you afraid they will look at you like you can’t handle it? Like you’re weak? Like you can be replaced? Sounds like saving face to me… and all that face saving won’t get you anywhere if you collapse from exhaustion or have a mental breakdown because you didn’t give yourself a chance to recuperate.
So how do we do that? How do we refill so we can keep being the superhumans we’ve convinced ourselves we need to be. Let’s affirm!
Affirmation 1: I am embracing recuperation. Let me hear you say it out loud to yourself: I DESERVE A BREAK. You deserve a break! It doesn’t make you weak, or incapable or any of the other things you think taking a day or two to recoup will make you. Embrace that you are a human being and you require a working body and mind to be a productive member of society.
Affirmation 2: Rest does the body/mind good. I don’t think I can say enough how much we need to listen to our bodies and minds when they tell us something. Ignoring the body when it says something doesn’t feel right, ignoring the mind when it says something is off, will result in further unnecessary damage. I want you to think for a minute about cancer. What are they always telling us about it? That if we catch it early there’s a better chance of full recovery, but if we catch it in stage 4… there’s a higher mortality rate. Now I’m not telling you to treat your body like it has cancer, but I am telling you not to get so caught up in trying to appear well that you miss when you aren’t.
Affirmation 3: God says so. “For everything there is a season…” is what Ecclesiastes says. But it says more. That 3rd book? You should read it and really dig into it. Verses 12 and 13 say: “So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Those things you’re passing on so you can work more at a job that doesn’t value you? That vacation you’re not taking because someone asked at the last minute if you would switch shifts with them? Or how about not putting your email on out of office because you HAVE to respond to emails as they come in… none of that! My God says I deserve to enjoy the fruits of my labor so I’m gonna do it and I fully encourage you to do the same.
My loves, embrace recuperation. Give yourself a chance to bounce back so you can stay healthy and happy. Don’t let anxiety cause you more anxiety because you’re too busy worrying about how it looks when you take a break so you just don’t take one. Remember to love yourself first, and stop pouring from that empty cup. I love you, and I’m always rooting for you! Keep conquering daily!
EMBRACING EMOTION: THE BLOG 