Welcome to Pushing Pause where we take a moment in our week to explore faith, rest, and beauty in our everyday lives. In this email you’ll find a short reflection, a resource, and a practice to go deeper with the week’s topic. I’m glad you’re here!
I’m sure you’ve noticed, but it seems now that November is here we’re on the fast track to the holidays. My kids are already asking to decorate the house for Christmas, we’ve made Thanksgiving and Christmas plans, and I’ve started my shopping for the season. I confessed on Instagram the other day that I spent nearly 2 hrs. looking online for Christmas pajamas for my kids. I can spiral fast into the depths of overthinking and overwhelm when it comes to small decisions this time of year. I gravitate towards the first thought or flashy thing before my eyes. Then I jump to another and another and the next thing I know I feel like a balloon haphazardly darting around as the air comes out of it. This season can be beautiful and exciting but I’m already finding that I need to put some rhythms and anchors in place to keep from getting sucked into the constant stream of demands and distractions.
How might you experience this season differently by intentionally thinking through what your hopes and needs are and then putting practices in place to prioritize them? I believe these simple considerations can be a spiritual discipline especially as we remember that God is present with us in all things. If we want to cultivate peace or joy, our everyday decisions of how we spend our time and energy matter. We can’t shrug off responsibilities but we can put some boundaries in place that help us to not lose sight of what matters most to us.
If I sit back and think about what I want for the season ahead, despite what my use of time might suggest, it’s not a good deal on cute pajamas. I want connection with those I love, peaceful moments for reflection, quiet, cozy times of reading, and to celebrate in meaningful ways. I also have a good amount of school work to complete for my spiritual direction program, and I want to finish the semester well. To make those things happen, I need some guardrails in place so I don’t venture off course. What do you desire and need for November and December?
Each day is an invitation and each distraction is a choice. There are many good choices for us in this season but what will yield fruit that will nourish your spirit and others? Sometimes we get to choose and other times the choice is made for us from certain responsibilities we have. In the moments where we do get to choose, may we choose wisely and from a place of love centered on the deep peace of God. May we have the courage to choose rest instead of overwhelm and gratitude over consumption. The season ahead can be a beautiful invitation, how will we respond?
A Resource
I find the practical advice of Kendra Adachi (aka, The Lazy Genius) so helpful! Her first Lazy Genius principle from her book is to “name what matters”. This will serve us well this season and beyond. Her book and podcast are like a friend holding your hand guiding you to better ways.
A Practice
I’m going to offer several practices that I use to help add in some rhythms and intentional guardrails in a busy season. You can do one or all! Personally, I’m in desperate need of reigning in my fluttering mind so I’ll be utilizing them all to help me focus and create more internal calm. Take what you need for this season.
Brain Dump - I don’t love the name but by golly I find it so helpful! You’re likely familiar with the idea but if not, it’s just like it sounds. You take a piece of paper and a pen and just write down everything that is taking up space in your thoughts. Nothing is too big or small for this list. Just sit, think, and put it on the paper. Mine usually centers around the “To Do’s” I’m carrying but worries or ideas also spill onto the list. I think the old fashioned analog practice of pen to paper works best here to help our brain release some of the thoughts in a cathartic way.
Set parameters around distractions - I know myself and I will always be tempted to click on a “holiday gift list” when it lands in my inbox or is linked on Instagram. I have to intentionally set some parameters to help me practice more discipline so I can stay focused on what matters and needs to be done. Right now that looks like pausing certain apps or deleting them and limiting the time I spend checking my email or browsing online. What are the things that easily distract you? What would help you manage those distractions better?
Practice Quiet - This season can be beautifully busy and sometimes loud (at least in our brains) as we hustle and plan. Quiet re-centers us. Choose a practice like, reading, yoga, prayer, or true silence to settle yourself and feed the internal need we all have for quiet.
Name what matters, but also what doesn’t - As I shared in the resource, Kendra’s first Lazy Genius principle is to name what matters, and that’s so helpful! Do that and return to your answers this season over and over again but also name what doesn’t matter. When you see the sale for holiday cards and you feel the urge to order them you’ll remember that it doesn't matter to you and can move along to the things that do matter. Each of us will have our own and that’s the whole point. It’s personal to you.
Engage a spiritual practice - This is in the same vein of practicing quiet that was already shared, but can be a little different. We can do all of the things above but unless we’re grounding ourselves in the presence of God we’ll likely still be lacking peace. What practices help you come home to yourself in the presence of God? If you’re not sure, start with a minute of silence as you take deep breaths and offer a simple but meaningful prayer, “God, give me peace in this season.”
I would love to hear from you on what practices help ground, calm, and help you delight in the season! Hit reply here or jump over to Instagram to share on the post about peaceful holiday rhythms so we can learn from each other. Thanks for reading! And if you have a friend you think would enjoy this, please share.