CHECK YOURSELF

Most of my adult life has involved existing with some level of exhaustion.  The problem with this is it set me up to normalize that sensation.  I don’t immediately recognize it as sign of disordered wellness the way one would a rash on the skin.  

Thankfully, these days I notice more quickly when I am veering off the wellness track.  The challenge is to determine whether it is just an episode of overtiredness or if I am ignoring the basic self-care habits I have set up for my life. 

Lately, I've noticed myself slipping into a consistent energy drain mode.  It made me remember that the path of well-being maintenance has no end.  Life is constantly changing so my methods to approach it need periodic modification.

In order to keep up with life’s curves I’ve learned to do a simple self-check when I am feeling out of sorts.

1.  SEE the truth about my current situation. 

Am I just having a crazy, busy week or have I overscheduled myself into a never-ending cycle of giving with no rest or renewal? 

Am I just being overly emotional about a particular disagreement or is this conflict representative of a pattern of dysfunction in a relationship?

To quote GI Joe, “Knowing is half the battle.”


2.  SEEK ways to improve my wellness status. 

If I see that adjustments need to be made, I have to figure out how to make that happen.  It may be a long-term plan with various milestones.  It may be an immediate drastic change. 

The key is to have the courage to make the decision to change instead of convincing myself I don’t see what I see.

3.  SEIZE my unique life purpose. 

Before I act on any decisions, I determine if it is in line with what I have determined to be my unique life purpose. 

This is where I have erred in the past.  I would see that a change needed to be made and I would make one just for the sake of being proactive. 

Although I tried to be purposeful, I didn’t have a good sense of what that purpose was.  I was much more vulnerable to doing what other people thought was a good idea for me. 

Now I seek out change that is purposeful for me.

4.  Those first three steps are all done in order to SUSTAIN my overall sense of well-being. 

In the past, I have been subject to falling into and out of wellness habits depending on the circumstances.  Now I feel capable of withstanding the changing tides of life with my well-being intact.

What is your process for ensuring you stay well?

BE STILL AND JUST BE

Sometimes I just need a little time to be.  Spending time being still centers me.  Whether it is called quiet time or meditation it is good for my soul. 

Many of us rush around so much we don’t take moments to be at one with ourselves and our surroundings. 

This is why yoga used to stress me out.  There was so much quiet and deep breathing.  I had no patience for all that. 

The stretching was nice but the perceived edict to be calm had the effect of making me tense.  I didn’t realize the fact I couldn’t stop my brain from racing was a clear sign I needed a mental time out.

Now I’ve recognized how important quiet time is.  I specifically set aside time for it. 

This time is distinct from Bible reading, journaling and exercise.  Those activities help me disconnect from some of life’s daily drama, but my mind isn’t able to completely release.

There is a level of conscious alertness that must be maintained to read, write or dodge cyclists on a path.  It’s not simply being in the way I need in order to clear my mind.

It is my experience that emptying my consciousness of everything can have two results.

When I am living life on purpose, setting my mind free takes me to a better place than I started.  I trust my spirit to do its thing, and I end up getting more clarity on how to sustain my wellness.

Wonderful things can happen in that stillness.  Sometimes there are powerful epiphanies.  Other times it is just a chance to marvel at how awesome the world is when I’m not messing with it.

However when I am ignoring my authentic truth, my spirit tells me about myself when I give it that opening to share.  I am forced to acknowledge the parts of my life that are clearly not on purpose for me.  It is still powerful, but it’s not necessarily the happiness and light one associates with meditation.

Back when I gave no thought to living on purpose, I saved up all my reflection time for vacations.  I knew it wouldn’t be fun and I didn’t want all that angst disrupting my normal day-to-day activities.   

If I got super bummed out on vacation, I could counter it with a day of skiing, hiking or sitting on a beach.  It kept me functioning but hardly thriving.

Nowadays, I’m not adherent to any particular meditation technique.  Over time, I’ve learned how to empty my mind, relax and tune into my spirit regardless of the environment.  

The change came when I got to a place where I trusted the truth that comes out of the stillness.  I no longer have to be on the defensive against what will happen when I go there.  Even if I don’t love it at the time, I know it is my truth and meant to keep me in line with my purpose.

The beauty of my life these days is striving for a consistent sense of well-being.  This keeps me from being afraid to sense my being.  I find comfort in stillness because it keeps me true to myself. 

I urge you to give it a try.  See where your spirit takes you when you let it lead.  Take a few minutes to be still and just be.