Hi Everyone!!
How’s it going today?
Here in Massachusetts the heat wave has finally broken and
this morning we are enjoying a peaceful cooling rain coming straight down, no
wind, no thunderstorm, just wonderful, renewing rain.
So, as I look at my daily planner this morning, already thinking
and stressing over the weighty national, as well as international issues
affecting us, I now add worrying over my lengthy to-do list. And my anxiety level begins to rise. My shoulders tense, my head begins to throb. How
in the world am I going to get all this done, I don’t know! I rub my sleep
deprived eyes, set my Keurig to brew, feed my two kitties, and then take my cup
of coffee and head into the sunroom. I slide
open a few windows for the kitties to look out…..and I hear the rain. I look out and see the little glittering streams
of water trailing down from the house eves.
Then I see the flowers, some with their faces lifted up to receive the
refreshing wetness that will renew their vibrance and sustain their summer lives. Ooooh.
I think how peaceful and inviting this scene is. But then I also think of all the tasks on my
to-do list, everything needing my attention today, and I feel the anxiety begin
to rev up again. I feel the throb in my
head again. I spot my Bible on the table,
and remember that I committed (to myself) to having daily morning devotions.
But I don’t really have time this morning.
But then I look out at the rain.
I listen…it’s so calming, so peaceful.
My floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows allow a full view, and with
them open, it is a symphony of refreshing, calming sound! I realize I am smiling.
Ohhhhhh….. I want to just stand here and take it all in. I want to listen, to hear, to see, to smell,
all this enchanted peace – it’s so pretty! It’s so tranquil. It’s so soothing. It’s…yes… it’s anxiety relieving.
But I have so much to do!
But oh how I long to just enjoy a moment of this peace.
Some days it’s really hard to make the time, to make ourselves slow down, stop a moment and
just rest. De-stress. Rejuvenate. Forget about our troubles, what’s
going on in the world, what needs our attention. But that is exactly what we need to do – to replenish
our dry and thirsting minds and souls (and nerves!). I am so very fortunate, yes blessed, to live
in such a picturesque and soothing place, which sometimes demands I stop and simply
see and observe. Beauty, tranquility,
peace – all right here for me to behold.
Yet, at times I will choose to ignore it all and embrace stress and
anxiety instead.
This morning……I chose beauty, tranquility and peace!!
What about you? Are you stressing today? Is anxiety causing
you to tense and have a throbbing headache? Do you feel overwhelmed? Are there little feelings of panic inside of
you?
Well, try doing what I did, stop
a moment. Just for a moment or two,
that’s all it takes. Sit in a serene
place – or any place out of the noise and confusion. Close your eyes. Take in a slow, deep breath, allowing your
stomach and abdomen to fill and pooch out.
That’s it. Now slowly let your breath
back out. Begin to think about something
good; something pleasant; a nice experience you had, something nice that you
saw somewhere, something beautiful, something fun; something that brings a good
feeling inside of you. Allow yourself to
smile at the thought or memory –even just for a moment. Take that moment’s breathe of reprieve from
all that is going on, from all that is stressing you out.
Now just sit there for another moment; dwell in that place, in
that scene. Open your mind. Let the good feeling seep in. Embrace it in your thoughts, allow it to
envelope you. Feel the joy in that one
moment. Let it begin to push out the stress and begin to flow and spread,
through your mind, down the back of your aching head and tensed up neck and
shoulders, into your heart, warming your inner self and releasing the
tension. Stay there. Hold on to that feeling. One more moment as you verbally give yourself
permission to feel more relaxed, to dwell in that peaceful moment, to relive
that wonderful memory. Take another deep
breath; drop your shoulders, relax your arms as you breathe out. Feel the calm
begin to enter and flow through you.
With eyes still closed, smile.
For just one moment, allow yourself to feel calm, refreshed, and
beautiful. Make the choice within you to
hold onto this place of peace and serenity this day.
And then open your eyes, smile
at what you've just done, make the decision to see the beauty and any positives
in this day and start working on your tasks, one thing at a time, until you’re
done. Any time throughout the day you begin
to feel overwhelmed again and need a quick refresher, just take this moment’s
breathe of reprieve again. The more you
practice it, the better you will get at it. And the better you get at it, the
more peaceful and less stressed you will be!!
Which means a happier, healthier you, better able to leave your positive
mark on this world!
..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -
think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
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