Here's to a new year and a better You!

Happy 2014!  I want to start the new year off talking about an important topic...You!  

Chances are, you are a lot like me.  You care about others, especially your family, friends, and those in need.  Being a compassionate person is a good quality to have, but it can have negative side-effects if you aren't too careful.  One downfall to being a compassionate person is that we tend to always put ourselves last.  Although, at first, this might seem noble, it can actually have a bad result.  The tendency to put all our needs aside in order to help others will catch up with us after a while.  We ultimately suffer and so do those whom we were trying to help.  

Our bodies and minds have specific needs that must be met for us to thrive.  While it is very important to care for others, we must not forget our own needs.  If we are not healthy physically, spiritually and mentally, we will be in no shape to help anyone else.

I learned this all too well when I had my own business while trying to raise a family.  I tried to be superwoman.  I wanted to be everything to everyone and I had a very hard time saying no to people.  I tried to please everyone, even when I had to sacrifice things that were critical for my own health.  I thought that I could get minimal sleep, eat on the go (which usually meant eating poorly or just skipping meals all together), and give up time for my hobbies, church, and family.

As a young adult this worked out okay for a little while.  Youth can make you naive and a little ignorant.  I worked on little sleep and lots of fast food that gave quick energy.  However, this was a recipe for disaster.  I ended up taking on more than I could handle.  I began to get more and more tired.  My body and my mental health began to seriously suffer.  

I began to be less efficient with my work.  I became forgetful; and worst of all, I began letting people down.  Anxiety pulled up a seat in the front row of my life.  Plus I began beating myself up for disappointing those I was trying to help.  I felt like a failure.  This was adding to my emotional stress and I had created no outlet.

I couldn't get everything done I needed to; there just wasn't enough time in the day.  I was over-committed and I thought if I just worked harder and stayed up longer I could get everything done.  Boy was I wrong!  I was attempting the impossible.

It is so important to set priorities and establish boundaries.  I learned that if you try to be everything to everyone, you will end up being nothing to no one.  It wasn't intentional and it didn't happen overnight...but I had so much on my 'to do' list, that nothing ever got done.

My gas tank was running on empty and I wasn't doing anything to refill it.  It is very hard to do a good job at anything when running on fumes.  You end up being so inefficient and your head is so foggy it takes forever just to get started on even the simplest task.  Before my day would even start I would feel behind.  

Our bodies need to be recharged and they need good fuel and adequate rest in order to function properly.  We can't be our best with out properly caring for ourselves.  Our bodies are magnificently designed machines that need continual maintenance.  If we abuse them by eating poorly and not recharging them, then we will eventually burnout.  I can guarantee you that.

As we know, raising children takes a great deal of energy, time, and most of all patience.  To be our best, we have to press the pause button every now and then to take time for ourselves.  We don't have to be superwomen, we just have to be the best we can be.  But the only way to do this is to take time to recharge our own batteries.

There isn't anything wrong with asking for help.  God doesn't expect us to do things alone.  In fact, it is almost selfish not to ask for help when we need it because there will come a time when things become bigger than we can handle and we end up taking it out on the ones we care most about.  And they don't deserve this because we thought we could 'do it all'.  

The term 'resolution' is just a fancy word for 'goal-setting'.  I am a big fan of goal-setting.  Although goals can be set any time of year, I think the new year can be a great time to set goals for yourself.  Well defined goals can help you create long-lasting habits.  Moms, I encourage you to get out those calendars and schedule some regular 'Me' time.  Even if its just 20 minutes a day, it is so vital for you to recharge your batteries.  

Here's to a great and better You in 2014!


'Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.' - 1 Cor. 6:19-20

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