A couple of days ago I wrote about the struggle many of us have with “plate-spinning.” A young Christian woman read it and wrote to me with her testimony about how God had helped her to move from a life of stressful plate-spinning to a life of peace and calm. I hope what she has written blesses you as much as it did me.
A couple years ago I came to the realization that my fast paced life and high stress levels were beginning to take a toll on me physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually. My plates were spinning out of control and I desperately needed to slow them down. I began counseling shortly after. During the first sessions, I was very focused on implementing the tools I was given. Little did I realize these tools would become a lifestyle over the next few years. It’s been a long road and here, by the grace of God, are 3 blessings that he has used and is using:
Sunday Worship
Sunday worship became a lot more than simply going to church, it was a taste of an eternal rest. On Sundays I intentionally spend time slowing my mind down. I will often sit in a quiet environment and listen to psalms/hymns for 20-30 minutes. Nothing else but the meditation of scripture through music is filling my mind and I find it helpful as I prepare for worship as well. This may seem a strange way to slow my spinning plates, but each Monday my mind is refreshed with the gospel and relaxed for the tasks of the week.
Morning Exercise
Most often when I mention to someone how this has helped me, they will respond with “Well, you are an athlete so it is easier for you.” Truth is, I still wake up early most mornings to take a short jog. I find it very relaxing and it wakes up my brain allowing me to think more clearly and be more efficient with my day. I’m not so sure about the science behind it, but days when I choose to exercise in the morning compared to those when I don’t, are noticeably different. Our bodies are so complex and fascinating.
Practical Tools
Re-training my mind has been the most difficult and tedious part of it all. On a daily (and even hourly) basis, when I am faced with stressful situations or my mind is going in a thousand directions, one of two phrases will come to mind. The first; “Facts, Thoughts, Feelings” (from a sermon based on Psalm 77) and the second, “Peanut Butter Pie” (Pause, Breathe, Pray). It’s amazing how the Lord has used these two simple mnemonic phrases to change how I approach most everything. Ultimately, it is putting life’s stressors into Kingdom perspective.