More Than You Can Handleনমুনা

 Taking Care of Yourself is Not Selfish

Self-care is essential to staying healthy in a season when life feels upside down. Grief can feel like swimming in peanut butter. You may wonder when your sleep, appetite, energy, and relationships will return to normal. 

Four Quick Tips 

1. Spend time outside every day. A few moments of fresh air will work wonders to reframe anxious thoughts. Remember to breathe in the majesty of a beautiful sunset, flowers beginning to bloom, or birds flying around without a worry. God is with you. He has not forgotten about you. He is crazy about you.

2. Be real. Recognize that it is OK to cry, and it’s also OK to laugh. Each of us has a unique way of walking through adversity. Give yourself and others lots of grace.

3. Lean into your faith. Meeting with the Lord early in the morning is a wonderful way to start your day with hope instead of fear.

If you’ve never asked Jesus into your life, why not today? Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead — you will be saved.” 

During a time of deep family crisis, I remember praying this simple prayer, “Jesus, I don’t know if you are real or not; but if you are, I need you. Please come into my life.” And He did. 

4. Download a Christian meditation app. I love the Pause app’s calming phrase, “Jesus, I give everyone and everything to You.” That pretty much covers it.  

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”