The Surprising Solution to Stress and Pressure

How is your pressure meter today? With the added stress of this pandemic, anxiety is going through the roof for many. Financial pressures. Scares of being infected. Shifting responsibilities. All of these things can steal our peace unless we do something so today I have a surprisingly different solution for our hectic lifestyles. 

As a single-parent, I regularly felt the stress of having too many responsibilities and not enough support. Everything fell on my shoulders so I learned to push and pressure myself to "get it all done". I've always lived by the old adage "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today." no matter how tired or exhausted I was.

I have realized living on the rat wheel is not a healthy way to live. Contrary to what our culture tells us, the answer to all this hecticness is not to do more and do it faster. The answer is to do LESS and do it slower! Yes, SLOW DOWN AND DO LESS. Don't tell this to your boss, however. 

When we slow down, we are able to be more present. We will make fewer mistakes, think more carefully, and we will actually be more productive. We won't have to have so many do-overs. 

Slowing down also allows us to focus on how we are FEELING in any given moment. Our feelings are so often ignored and then we blow up or over-react at someone close to us. Slowing down also enables us to be more mindful of our actions, habits, and behaviors. Perhaps this is another gift of the pandemic. By making us slow down, we have a chance to reconnect with others and ourselves and that is always a good thing. 

It's funny because - as you may have noticed - God is never in a rush. His timetable is SLOW. Jesus never rushed. He was mindful of everything. Remember when the woman with the issue of blood touched his robe and amidst all those crowds, he noticed it? Slowing down allows us to notice. 

Now I am not advocating a lazy, do nothing approach to life. We are called to be responsible for ourselves so that we will not be a burden to others.  What I am saying is that it's time to take a more relaxed approach and stop pressuring ourselves needlessly. The house will get cleaned, the bills will get paid, and eventually we will go to the gym and exercise. Rather than stress, talk to yourself and remind yourself that everything will get done in its own time. As it says in the book of Ecclesiastes, "there is a time and a place for everything under the sun."

How are you feeling today?  Are the pressures of life caving in on you? 

Thought for the week

Today, I will take things slower. I will not pressure myself or others. I will do what is right in front of me and I will take regular breaks. I will not do too much in any one day and I will trust that all will be taken care of in due time. I will relax and enjoy my day. 

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Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help us all find healing, wholeness, health, and harmony. 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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Smell the Roses

It's a brand new year and it feels like it's off to the races already. It wasn't even January 1st and folks were posting their New Year's resolutions on Facebook.  My publisher was ringing my phone trying to get me to focus on marketing for Lent when I was focused on Christmas. Social media, smart phones, and the relentless advance of time and technology presses us to keep up, move faster, and get more done.

I, for one, protest.

As a single parent, for years, I moved at the speed of light, you might say. Every minute was packed with things to do and places to go. I ran myself ragged trying to do it all.  I prided myself on being able to multi-task. Until, one day, I ran myself into the ground. 

My kids saw it coming.
"Smell the roses, Ma," my youngest would warn.

When we reviewed my to do list, a wise young one asked "I don't see play time on here anywhere."

Out of the mouth of babes, right?

I knew it was time for a major shift in perspective and behavior. You know how they say "Father knows best"? Well, our heavenly Father does know best and he knows how to slow us down. Physical ailments, migraines, and over-strained muscles are our body's way of telling us something needs to change. But do we listen?

When was the last time you really savored a meal, took a relaxing, hot bubble bath or sat down in your favorite chair to read a good book? If you're raising kids, when did you last make them a home-cooked meal? Read them a good book? Or take time to play a game? If you're single, how many nights a week are you out of the house? Do you wake up every morning tired? Do you have time to exercise and keep in shape?

I may be in the minority and that's okay. But I have learned: God's pace is S L O W and His voice is quiet. When I slow down enough to hear that still small voice, I gain clarity on my priorities. When I am more motivated to do the will of God than the fear of getting so much done, I accomplish what really matters to the heart of my Lord.

It is a trade off.  I may not be up with the latest news, Hollywood gossip, electronics or sports teams. To be honest, I am more interested in hearing what God wants to whisper to me than what the world is trying to shout. My mother likes to kid me by saying "Oh yeah, I remember. You don't watch television." It's kind of a joke around our family now.

So, what do you think about the pace of life? Are you moving at the speed of light these days? If so, are you really enjoying life?  I know I still struggle with going against the rushing tide. What do you do to slow down and smell the roses? Until next time, keep the faith and keep looking up!

The Sign of Snow

This morning as I look out my window, the sky is puffy and white and the snowflakes are softly floating through the air. Some might look at the snow and see it as a nuisance, an interference in their plans and schedules. I see it as a sign.

A sign, you ask? Of what?

A sign to slow down. To sit back by my fireplace, with a cup of hot tea, and maybe a book, a pet, or a loved one close by. The gym will always be there, so will the stores, the shopping, the errands. After a hectic week on all fronts, I enjoy a snowfall on a saturday morning. The peace I feel watching the snowflakes fall to the ground is a welcome respite from the busyness of the week. To me, it's a reminder from heaven to slow down and relax, to focus and perhaps meditate on what is really important in life.

As we rush through life, and worry and fret about the daily issues and annoyances, I remember Ps. 46:1 "Be still and know that I am God". That's all we really need to do, take some time to be still and listen. Enjoy the snow!

August Already

Wow, I can't believe August is here already: the final month of summer. How's your summer been? Have you made time to have some fun and maybe relax in the sun? Summer is a time to recharge our batteries and take things a little easier. Clothes and meals are lighter. Time for snowballs and outdoor concerts, for reading and being a bit lazy.

I've learned it's okay to be a bit lazy sometimes. In fact, it's actually healthy. Our lives are so go go go, always in a rush to go somewhere or do something. The body and the mind can only take so much activity. I think that's why we have the seasons. As it says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun (Eccl. 3:1). We were not made to be on the go constantly.

Slowing down has immeasurable benefits both physically and mentally. I know I can think clearer when I don't have so much on my mind. I actually am more productive because I have time to think things through. Besides that, feeding off the adrenalin high of constant activity puts too much stress on both the mind and the body over the long haul.

I plan to take full advantage of the last month of summer. Maybe take in a few day trips and spend some more time at the pool. How about you, dear one? How will you enjoy the last lazy hazy days of summer? Write me and let me know!