Sometimes I feel the pull as soon as I open my eyes. If the previous day's problems don't get resolved, the weight can often feel heavy in the fog of early morning. Even after a cup of coffee, I find myself wrestling with my thoughts. Managing our brains around both big and little problems isn't always easy, but it is necessary. That's why one of the most important ways to live refreshed is to choose the best thoughts for ourselves, around EVERYTHING. It's natural for our thinking to default to the worst case scenario. It's our way of preparing for potential risks and danger because our brains are designed to expect the worst. It's a protection mechanism, and although we need this to keep ourselves safe from real danger, it can also become a barrier to simply enjoying each day apart Continue Reading
Refresh With a Dream Day
Are you familiar with a dream day? It is the perfect invitation to step away from all that stresses and robs us of current joy. It's a somatic way to connect with who we desire to be, not who we find ourselves being in the present moment, especially if who we are is tired, overwhelmed, stressed and longing for more. Regardless of our phase of life, we all have goals and dreams. They are what fuels us to keep moving forward in life. They excite, refresh and give hope of better things to come. Think back to a time when you were so looking forward to an event you knew was coming in the future - a party, vacation, wedding, reunion. Most likely you spent much of your time thinking about it, anticipating, planning and envisioning every detail. And as you did, your senses helped to create Continue Reading
When the Hardest Grace is to Be Still
I am not one to sit still. Anyone who steps into my shadow for a day needs to rise early and lace up their most comfortable running shoes. From the moment my feet hit the floor, my to-do list begins cycling in my head. I would be the first to admit that I like filling my shoes with capable and self-sufficient. But what I've experienced is that my strengths can quickly become my downfall. Simply put, I struggle with being still long enough to let God work. I wrestle with not taking things into my own hands, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. As I write this, the struggle continues. In my core, I know I shouldn't take back what I've surrendered at least 100 times. But in my head, it plays out differently, and harnessing those thoughts chomping at the bit to take Continue Reading
5 Simple Life Habits to Inspire a More Than Enough Mindset
I've known since a very young age that I don't like clutter, and I don't need a lot of things to make me happy. If you step into my life, you'll find I'm not a huge collector of anything, and even the teapots my mother passed down to me are nestled in a storage container instead of on display. Clutter, whether in small spaces or large doesn't make me feel comfortable or cozy. And although I'm far from a minimalist, I definitely thrive in open, calm spaces. As a child, I remember visiting my grandparent's home where every inch of the kitchen table was occupied with knickknacks, the cupboards overflowed with a mishmash of plates and cups, and each surface seemed to have more than enough items vying for a place of significance. I'm sure much of the clutter I remember had sentimental Continue Reading