Are you taking the time you need to get grounded?

We’ve had a lot going on in our family recently, well who am I kidding, it’s been a year. I am the person who wants to be there for everyone, every time, all the time. As fabulous as this is and as much as I truly enjoy throwing myself into all of them, I’ve learned something valuable as of late. I’m an introvert. Being that I have that personality trait, there are certain things that I need in order to feel comfortable in my own skin. Life does throw some curveballs however and sometimes there isn’t time or space to do the things a person needs to feel whole, sane and happy. In order to be everything you want to be for yourself and for those you love though, you have to make time even if it’s five minutes and do one of the activities that make you feel grounded. I attempt to do this on a daily basis. Mama’s out there, this can be especially tricky. A lot of times we go through life medicating ourselves and don’t even know what makes us tick. If you’re constantly turning to alcohol, social media, Netflix, workaholism, or people pleasing as a drug, you won’t get to fully know yourself. It takes asking yourself, “self, what do you need in order to feel whole?” For me, I need nutritious food, plenty of water, very little alcohol and sugar, eight hours of sleep and some form of movement each day. On top of that, I need some moments to myself. I need quiet time and time alone with God whether through Bible reading, devotionals, singing worship music as I drive my car (I just have to remember to keep my hands on the wheel rather than throwing them up in the air), listening to a podcast or reading one of many books that I’m reading at any given moment. I also need time in nature, time with my dogs, and quality time with my husband and family doing something fun. When life happens, and it’s usually daily, and I don’t get to do all of these things then something is going to suffer. Typically, the thing that suffers is me. Because life is so unpredictable, I’ve learned to recognize signals in me that point me back to the basics. When people tell me I seem grumpy, or I notice I have less patience it may be time for me to take a time out. Sometimes all we have is five minutes but it’s important to recognize our signals and use our self discipline to take those moments that we need. It’s going to be different for all of us. Some of us need to jump out of an airplane to feel whole. Make sure you’re doing some of the things that keep you ticking as you take care of everyone else. I promise you’ll be better off for it and your family will thank you when you’re still smiling and standing upright rather than in a heap. There is even a Biblical example of what happens when we are humanly spent. Elijah, who was a prophet in the Old Testament, had one of these moments that we know about, recorded in 1 Kings 19: 4-8. Basically, he was scared and tired and asked God that he could just die. It turns out, all he needed was some sleep, food and water and he was good to go. Sometimes we forget that we are human beings, not machines. We’re only as good as our input. When life gets stressful, that’s a time to lean in and dig in and do the things we need so desperately. Be well and remember to take time for you.