Continued…
Well, here we are again, the place where something is not right. The place where mistake resides, or overwhelm floods our thoughts. What can we do when life looks a little less than we desired or we’re feeling the pressures building… Sweet one, how can we fix our funk?
In part 1 of this series, I shared a few of the ways in which I found really helpful to begin to pull me out of those life moments where I feel out of control or just off course. So sweet one, I want to encourage you to continue to take some time to sit down and work out what gives you joy or might help you keep on track and inadvertently become aware of what might be missing when I’ve hit a low point. So grab your journal and start asking a few questions of yourself and God. What do I do that brings me joy? When I don’t have [insert your thing here] in my life I loose joy. What is something I can’t live without? Is my health in check? Do I need more down time? Do I need more time with other people? Is my environment impacting me, and how? Set out to write down 3-5 things and extend on it as more clarification comes to mind. Because we all operate differently my things might not work for you and vice versa… however, here are some practical ways to get your started if you’re not quite sure where to begin! Who knows, they might resonate with you, in which case feel free to adopt them in your own walk!
Fellowship
Whether you are energised or drained by people, it’s all about finding the right people to spend time with. When you are deflated you need the life givers and cheer squad backing you and building into you, not people who will pull you down or dump on you. There is wisdom in guarding your heart here, and at the same time making sure the right people are trustworthy of your heart and will handle it with care. It’s part of why I love church family so much because when we gather together, we grow together. Finding the right balance of time with others and alone time can also be tricky and dependant on your tendency to lean more towards introversion or extroversion. Either way, be selective with who you let have the very best of you (and the very worst). In those not so great seasons, be planted in a church family who can support you, find your top three who will speak light into your darkness. While I’m here, avoid creating an island for yourself, we were designed to do life together, not alone, and loneliness is not the best company – so don’t keep it.
Self Care
Sounds easy, but I think it’s one of the first things we choose to let go of when we are tired, burnt out or just want to hit snooze on our reality. Simple grooming, finding time to exercise and a check in on the food you are consuming will indicate if you are feeding yourself what your body needs, or perhaps moreso what it wants. When we start to neglect looking after ourselves our environment can be impacted, along with our relationships and how we function in our day to day. I find starting my day with a walk the most refreshing thing, on the mornings where this is possible I am all the richer for it. The fresh crisp air and the intake of oxygen through my body gears my mind ready for what today might bring. I have also found it easy to find unfulfilling solace in food, endless tv shows, scrolling through everyone else lives and miss completely what God was saying to me in the crux of a moment. Be present to what God is teaching you, this comes first and foremost when we take the time to look after ourselves and our environment. Get a good amount of sleep, feed your body nutrients and give your mind the space to grow. Give yourself permission to love yourself a little more.
Word
As well as physical food we need to be constantly replenishing our soul with life breathing food. The Word is the greatest degustation menu there is, if you’re not sure where to begin start with Psalm 1. Find what delighting in the word looks like by incorporating it little by little in your everyday. His Word is life giving and it is where we often will hear the voice of God.
The great thing about keeping these within your day to day you will be less likely to stay in a funk because you are feeding all parts of yourself good things. It’s easy to notice when something is a little off if you are missing one, or more, of your elements. This list will be something you can return to as your emotional anchor – if something is missing, reinstate it. I’ve often found my list has been an indicator of what keeps me on track and also shows me what could be missing when I reach a tipping point.
So sweet one, if you find yourself in a funk, check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Until next time…
Side note: If this is all new to you, you might find it helpful to take a few minutes and do a personality test. I’ve found one here based on Myers Briggs, which has been so insightful to who I am. It doesn’t box you (or others when you start to see they too fit so well to the description!) but it is a helpful insight into how when we are healthy we can operate and how when we are unhealthy we can toxify our relationships or life.