Tag Archive | Mental health

Keep Trying

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Well, you know how people say, “my train of thought is”…Well, I don’t have a train of thought! I deal with a whole dang train station!!!

Thoughts coming and going, switching tracks, derailing, and even stalling. Oh, and believe you me, it’s a hot mess at times!!!

While getting dressed this morning, my thoughts were steered in the direction of my “short comings”.

Thoughts like:

I’m not enough…
I’m too much…
I can’t…
I should have…
Why me…
If I could just…

I smeared make-up into the crevices of my face. Then glued on eyelashes and drew on eye brows. I finally figure out where my cheek bones were and applied my blush. All while thoughts of my “short comings” kept racing through my mind.

When I finished applying my game face, I walked over to the bathroom window to look up the mountain side.

Even though it’s officially Spring here in Tennessee, the weather is very labile…Sunny one day then cold and windy the next. These poor plants are so confused!!! Once they start to trust that it is warm enough to release their foliage and blooms another cool front hits. Their tender foliage and blooms freeze and fall to the ground. Then, about the time they almost give up, here comes the sun and they try again.

When they finally emerge what a GLORIOUS sight!!!

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God can teach us some pretty incredible lessons though nature. That is if we will just take time to observe our surroundings and listen to the Master’s voice.

Life has been challenging for me both physically and emotionally since July of last year. Today I observed the plants on the mountain thriving despite the adversity. And, I heard the Master’s voice whisper to me…”KEEP TRYING…Don’t give up…KEEP TRYING!!! I’ve Got You!!!”

Then, I heard…” You can do all things through Christ who strengthens You”. I have quoted Philippians 4:13 for most of my life but today…Today I internalized it because He spoke it over me!!!

I share my morning because I know I’m not the only one who struggles. Friend, when He says I can do all things through Christ, I know He will give you that same strength too!!!

KEEP TRYING my FRIEND!!!

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Healing Through Acceptance: The “Let Them” Mindset

Jan15

Are you familiar with the phrase “Let Them”? I learned about the “Let Them” theory a little over a year ago. And the timing was perfect for where I was and what I was going through in life! As the oldest child, I grew up believing it was my responsibility to “fix” everything and everyone. The “Let Them” theory has definitely been freeing for me. This theory helped me realize circumstances are what they are and people are going to be who they are.

So…”LET THEM”

We all have our own unique journey. Each of us have the God given right to choose how we want to navigate that journey. I decided it was not my responsibility to try to fix the journey of others. In doing so would cause me to miss out on the journey God gifted me. If my focus is on controlling the narrative, I’m not focused on Living a Joyful Life.

Implementing the “Let Them” theory has made a huge impact on my personal peace and the peace of our home. Was it hard…ABSOLUTELY!!! Below is a Facebook post by my friend Luanne Salinas. Her post does a great job of identifying exactly what I thought before implementing the theory. It also explains how the “Let Them” theory gives closure.

Do I still love the individual(s)? YES
Do I still pray for the individual(s)? YES

But, From A Distance!

Here’s Louanne’s Post:

“Are you familiar with the “Let Them” theory? I’ll tell you friends the more I grow the more I am okay with accepting the “Let Them” in my own life and relationships.

This is something that took me a very long time to learn. I used to tolerate a lot because I didn’t want to lose people. But I learned the hard way if they were really my people they would never treat me like that. Don’t make the mistake of being so understanding and forgiving that you overlook the fact that you’re being repeatedly disrespected.

Let them be upset.

Let them judge you.

Let them misunderstand you.

Let them gossip about you,

Let them ignore you.

Let them be “right.”

Let them doubt you.

Let them not like you.

Let them not speak to you.

Let them run your name in the ground.

Let them make you out to be the villain.

Whatever it is that people want to say about you, let them!

Kindly step aside and LET THEM.

The hard truth is they know how much they are hurting you. And they just simply don’t care. They did it knowing it could cause them to lose you. And they did it anyway. People that love you care about how they make you feel. The end. Let them go.

There will be people that would rather lose you than be honest about what they’ve done to you. Let them go.

The lack of respect was the closure. The lack of apology was the closure. The lack of care was the closure. The lack of acountability was the closure. The lack of honestly was the closure. Let them go.

Make the decision to no longer sit at tables where you might be the topic when you get up. Let them go.

You can still be kind. You can even still love them deeply. But do it from the distance they created in their words and actions. Access to you is a privilege they have proven they can’t be trusted with. Let them go.

You don’t need to tell your side of the story. God already knows. Let God fight the battle for you. Let them go.

It’s taken me a long time to get here. Sleepless nights, countless tears, managing a range of emotions filled with anger, disappointment, confusion and deep hurt. Lots of self reflection, self preservation, deep prayer and seeking wisdom from those much wiser than me.

If you are struggling with this please know you are not alone. We will never understand why hurt people hurt people. But we can do the hard work to grow ourselves. Because healed people do in fact heal people.

Don’t you dare let them steal your joy.

Don’t you dare let them steal your light.

Don’t you dare let them steal your peace.

You are in control of that.

Hold tight to what you can control and release your grip on what you can’t control.

Let them go.”

Louanne, thank you for your post. I pray that by sharing it, someone will be moved to just

“Let Them”.

Fight or Flight

Sep22

Jessica (Niki) easily lifts Bob Bishop in &quo...

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When faced with a threatening situation do you run the opposite direction or is it full steam ahead no matter what the cost? This response is known as fight or flight.

The fight-of-flight response, also known as the acute stress response, refers to a psychological reaction that occurs in the presence of something that is terrifying, either mentally or physically. The fight-or-flight response was first described in the 1920’s by American physiologist Walter Cannon. Cannon realized that a chain of rapidly occurring reactions inside the body help mobilize the body’s resources to deal with threatening circumstances.

Threatening Circumstances:

A threatening circumstance is subjective and dependent on an individual’s threshold for stimulus. For some the threat can be real or perceived. This too depends on the individual’s ability to process information rationally and in a timely fashion. A threat can be as simple as a missed communication or as complex as perceived or actual physical danger. It is the perceived or actual degree of the stimulus that determines how we react.

Fight:

The first stress response to a real or perceived threat would be “fight”. To fight is to encounter the threat head on; not backing down either verbally or physically. Willing to sacrifice both life and limb without giving thought to the danger which could be involved.

Flight:

The second stress response to a real or perceived threat is “flight”. To flee the real or perceived threat. To avoid the encounter by removing one self from the proximity of the threat.

Instincts Versus God’s Word:

Do you find yourself being bombarded by those things which push the proverbial buttons in your life. Those buttons which evoke anger, fear, jealousy, or pride. Those buttons which initiate the fight-or-flight response. When faced with a difficult decision or perceived threat, I am sure you have heard the old saying “Go with your instincts”. However, do your instincts (fight-or-flight) line up with the word of God? Are you fighting when you should be fleeing or perhaps are you fleeing when you should be fighting. Is this a threat or is this a necessary trial with a purpose and you find your self asking Why Does Everything Have to Be So Hard?

When to Fight:

There is a time when we should fight; a time when we should stand for what is right. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. However, the battle should be fought while wearing the proper garments as defined in What Are You Wearing Today?. In addition to the proper attire we should prepare for battle; exercise our minds, practice problem solving, learn to ask the right questions, and most importantly constant prayer. Then while under attach we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepared to fight as God instructs rather than flee which we would do instinctively.

When to Flee:

God’s word also reminds us there is a time to flee. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” We should also remember to flee from idolatry: 1 Corinthians 10:14 ” Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry”. Finally, we are told to flee evil desires. 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” So those urges we instinctively fight against are what we should actually flee from according to God’s word.

Mountains out of Mole Hills:

Often times not all perceived threats are actual. Often it is our perception and we are often tempted to make mountains out of mole hills. We must make sure our minds are stayed on Christ so the proper perspective is maintained at all times. With Jesus in our hearts and the Holy Spirit guiding us we have the power to discern what is real versus perceived and all fear is removed from our daily lives.

Perhaps sometimes we just need to Lighten Up …

Love Lee ♥