I recently did a very short devotion on eliminating hurry. It pointed out how much negative energy comes from being in a rush and how that affects our personal state of wellbeing as well as our home environment.
We lose so much as we zip from one thing to the next and when we do slow down or have to wait we usually are thinking of what needs to be done next or in the future. Not to mention the number of times our temper erupts because we are running late or a catastrophe occurs because we are going faster than our bodies can keep up.
I spent most of yesterday trying to keep this thought in mind as we went through our day. It amazed me how many times I needed to remind my children and myself to "slow down" and "don't rush". It also really hit home as my 6-year-old was watching the microwave steam veggies cooking. The 5-minute timer was counting down the seconds when she asked: "Why is this taking so long?". I shook my head as I remembered my childhood before we got our first microwave and had to laugh as I explained. Come to think of it I laughed quite a bit yesterday!
Here are five things to keep in mind for this week:
- When you have a minute of downtime refuse to pick up the phone! Look around you, watch your children interact without them knowing, smile at the person next to you in line, roll down the window at the stoplight and take a deep breath of the cool fall air, try to see how many blessings you can count... The list could go on and on! It was pleasantly surprising to sense the joy in the moments I did this.
- If you feel rushed take a second to stop, literally hit the freeze button. (Please don't do this while driving! Wait for the next red light. ) Take a few deep breaths to reset and then pace yourself. The world won't end if you are a couple of minutes later but the things we say to our family, friends or coworkers in our impatience can make a huge scar.
- Take a few extra minutes to eat lunch or drink your coffee. Close your eyes and really think about what you are doing. So much of our day is spent rushing through the mundane that we miss the joy we used to feel in those moments. I watched the kids eat their lunch and it was so fun to see their conversation and laughter without my constant correcting.
- Play a game of slow-motion with yourself and then with the family! Really think through each motion and how you are moving. This can be very eye-opening and hilarious at the same time.
Think of something not listed? It'd be great to hear your ideas and how these may have made a difference! Comment below or on our Facebook page.
Love & Hugs,
Heather
