Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Consuming

When we get overwhelmed, stressed, or scared, it's easy to turn to consuming instead of producing.

Just look at the graphic I made for this week's post. Some people spend lots of time on the computer or phone, researching new ideas or escaping into movies or cat videos. Some people keep reading book after book after book instead of writing their own (ahem...moving on). Some people eat when they're not hungry just to dull the pain of whatever is stressing them out. Some people drink too much so they can forget whatever is bothering them (probably something a little harder than Pepsi, but that's all we have).

Consuming.

Do you ever do that? I sure do.

None of the things in the picture above are bad things when they are used or consumed in moderation. They only become bad when we consume them in excess to avoid something productive.

I'm still figuring out how to push through the uncertainty I feel and get something done (producing) instead of running to the computer or the pantry or the fridge (consuming).

Being aware is one of the first steps, but that doesn't make it easy. It takes lots of practice to get into new habits that will lead us to more productive choices.

I think reading the Bible is also important (and the only thing that we can never consume too much of). Knowing what the Bible says will give us encouragement and strength for making those tough choices to do our work instead of consuming, to stay away from too much food or drink instead of consuming, to invest in our relationships instead of consuming. 

With time and effort, we can get better at producing.

We'll enjoy better relationships, cleaner houses, healthier bodies, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

And then we can reward ourselves with a hilarious cat video.

Click here to watch a funny cat video.

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV)

Are you stuck in too much consuming? How can focusing on God help you to form better habits and become someone who produces instead?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Vacations

Have you ever felt too stressed to go on vacation?

That's how I felt a little over a week ago. We were frantically trying to cover our responsibilities while we would be gone, thinking about where we would go, and making plans for everything we would have waiting for us when we got back home. Plus we still had to pack!

"Maybe we should just stay home and do it some other time," I suggested to my hubby.

He reassured me that it would all work out fine and we continued packing and planning.

When we left on a Wednesday morning, we were a bit tense as we tried to get ahead of some bad weather (and went back home for something I forgot).

As each day passed, we felt more and more free. Putting miles between ourselves and our daily routines was good for us. 

We marveled at the beautiful fall colors along the way.

The foliage was beautiful throughout our trip!

We got out and explored new places.

We talked about things we didn't have time to discuss at home.

We laughed as a bald eagle came incredibly close to depositing the carcass of some dead animal on our windshield (it dropped in front of the car instead). 

I'm glad we didn't put this vacation off.

I could really feel a difference in how relaxed I was, so I've been pondering how to experience that even in the midst of my regular schedule back at home.

It takes effort, I think. 

If we're not careful, the cares and concerns of life can pile up in our hearts and minds, leaving us with way too much stress.

Making a conscious decision to let that worry and stress go can help us feel better even when we can't physically get away.

It's hard, especially for some of us that are prone to think too much and ruminate on negative things.

Maybe we need to take mini-vacations when the stress starts to get to us. 

Get out the photo albums (or go to your computer) and look through pictures of past vacations and relive some of those relaxing moments. 

Make a list of things you can do for 10 or 15 minutes that might bring you a little joy before you get back to your responsibilities (paint a picture, read, play an instrument, take a bath, call a friend). Post the list somewhere handy and go to it when life gets to be too much.

Sit in a comfortable place and talk to God for a few minutes when you feel lots of worry or stress. After you talk, take some time to listen. God may give you some ideas that will help you feel better.

And when you can, take an actual vacation. It's worth the stress of planning and packing when you get to your destination and feel the wonder and joy of new (or familiar) places.

I'll end with just a sampling of the places and things we've seen so far on this vacation: 

The path to Bar Island at low tide (Bar Harbor, Maine)

Later in the day...what path to Bar Island?

Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy (New Brunswick, Canada)

 

Sunset at Peggy's Cove (Near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Moose along Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Cavendish Cliffs on Prince Edward Island

 We're heading toward home tomorrow, but we still have a few more days to enjoy this vacation. I plan to make the most of it. Who knows what we'll see?

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

Do you take time for vacations? How can focusing on God help you to let go of your worries and concerns, even when you can't actually get away?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Mental Health

Sometimes I wonder if my readers get sick of hearing about mental health from me.

I'm focusing on it again because October 7-13 is Mental Health Awareness Week.

I hope you'll stick with me for a few minutes and think about this important topic.

Even if you have never been diagnosed with a mental illness, your mental health is worth contemplating. 

When our brains are functioning well, our mental health is good and life is manageable and satisfying. When we have problems in the ways our brains function, life can rapidly deteriorate into something overwhelming and hopeless.

So it's good for all of us to think about mental health this week.

If you have good mental health, thank the Lord for that.

If you are struggling, ask for help. You don't have to go for years and years feeling bad and missing out on the happiness that's possible.

If you love or know someone with a mental health challenge, try to be supportive and understanding. Learn all you can about their illness and don't expect them to just "snap out of it." But you can't let them wallow in their illness, either. It's tough to find that balance, but you need to do it.

If all of us work on having good mental health and get more comfortable talking about it, the world can be a better place.

People will be more aware of how their brains function and they'll take steps to get healthy as soon as they notice any movement toward a downward spiral. 

People won't hide their feelings and stubbornly keep their "happy masks" on. They'll drop their guard and get support when they need it.

People won't ignore the symptoms they see in a friend or loved one's life. They'll ask questions and help get that person back to a healthier place.

Thanks for reading, everyone, and I pray that all of you do all that you can to enjoy good mental health.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27 NIV)

Do you struggle with a mental health diagnosis? Do you know someone who does? How can focusing on God help you (or that person) get to a healthy place again?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on What We're Thinking

Have you ever noticed that when you focus on something, you seem to see it show up everywhere?

It's often that way for me. I become aware of a certain idea or concept and suddenly I see it on TV, read about it in books, and hear people talking about it randomly.

This time it's the idea that our thoughts create our moods.

In recent months I had been introduced to that idea on The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo. It was kind of a hard concept to accept, but as she talked about it over and over I began to understand what she was saying and I could see it happening in my own life.

We don't just get angry or sad or happy automatically when something happens. How we feel is determined by what we're thinking about the situation.

That's why the exact same situation (like getting cut off in traffic) can make us furious one day (That jerk! He saw me but he just pulled right in front of me!) and on another day it might not upset us at all (Okay, he's sure in a hurry. I guess he didn't see me!).

I bought several books on depression recently (for research) and I cracked open Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns a couple of days ago. Imagine my surprise when one of the first thoughts in the book was this: "You feel the way you do right now because of the thoughts you are thinking at this moment."

When someone is depressed, they nearly always have distorted thoughts. It's been fascinating to read about those thoughts and recognize the ones that I tend to think often. I've improved so much in recent years, but I still have some work to do to combat that distorted thinking.

Maybe you're not depressed, but I hope you can see how your thoughts influence your entire life. If you're focused on the negatives (about yourself or others) then you're not going to be much fun to be around. If you're focused, instead, on the positives then you can't help but enjoy life at least a little bit more.

As I've been pondering this idea in recent weeks, I was also reminded that it is a concept mentioned in the Bible. Proverbs 23:7 in the NKJV says, "For as he [or she] thinks in his [or her] heart, so is he [or she].

So, friends, I'll just ask it straight out: What are you thinking? Next time you're extremely upset about something, try to find the troublesome thought that is behind the feeling. By changing that thought you just might be able to change how you're feeling about a situation.

It's not easy, and I'm sure it takes lots of practice. I've built up over fifty years of feeling certain ways without giving much thought to what's going on in my head, but it's time to change that.

I hope it doesn't take me another fifty years to learn to apply all of this! 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 NIV)

Can you catch the thoughts that lead to bad feelings for you? How can focusing on God help you to replace those with more positive and true thoughts that will improve your mood and your life?