Wouldn’t it be great to find the one smooth, perfect way to bring symmetry to your life? Where peace, calm, and resilience happen with the greatest of ease?
There is a balance between positive thinking and taking action in your daily life; emotional burnout can happen without warning. Keeping our sights on calmer, happier days in the middle of chaos or perhaps the dark side of grief can help keep our spirits up. I spoke with a friend this past weekend who lost their Mom recently. He couldn’t understand how other relatives seemed to be going on with their life, almost like nothing ever happened. I’ll never forget those dark days when I didn’t know how I would take another breath myself when I heard the laughing of those close to me making plans for the weekend.
Whether you are caregiving or processing the loss of a loved one (trust me, that never really ends), beware of the warning signs of burnout. The symptoms can be slight; perhaps you feel yourself getting run down or more irritable than you usually do. Maybe you find yourself picking up a bag of potato chips because it’s easier and quicker than making a cup of soup.
Sure, you can address those signs with “Tomorrow I’m going to…..” but then, to no avail. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results (so says my favorite physicist Einstein and SO true) is a fallacy.
Regardless of where you are in your life, it’s so easy to be caught up in the whys or why not’s.
Here are some ideas for you to put into place to simplify and create balance:
Set aside a few minutes on Sunday, write down everything you need to do in the coming week, cross off non-important items, and prioritize the perpetual ‘to-do’ list.
Make peace with the fact that you cannot do everything all the time.
Schedule some time on your calendar for something that brings you joy every day, however small. The point here is to take the time to honor yourself, too.
Learn how to say ‘no.’
Repeat.
None of us will do things perfectly or without mistakes. Goodness knows I wish I could; it wouldn’t be so exhausting. But I’ve found that taking a step back, refocusing, slowing down, and taking a closer look with a calm presence, can make a world of difference.
B-R-E-A-T-H-E
Hugs,
Cyndi Mariner
Breathing Spaces
