Mental Health
Will you join me in the December challenge to slow down?
1 December 2022
While listening to 'It's the most wonderful time of the year' and setting up our Christmas decorations this weekend, everything inside of me was thinking "Gosh! No way! Already?!?"
I know it sounds so cliche, but seriously... life really does seem to speed up with each passing year! Surely it was only a few months ago I was packing the same decorations away!
If I'm honest, this fast-paced 'catch up' year of 2022, post the last two "world-closing-down-years", has caught up with me big time.
I feel frazzled, spent, and tired. The consistency of changing plans, moving goal posts and the urgency to connect and to 'do' while we can, have all taken their toll.
So, this weekend I confess I found it hard to conjure up the feelings that it truly is the 'most wonderful time of the year'! My head knows it, and so does my heart... but I simply feel so so tired!
When reflecting on my extreme tiredness, my thoughts go straight to self-judgment:
"How on earth did I let myself get so tired?"
"Why did I not see this coming earlier, and make wiser changes earlier?"
...Then I remember what I often say to my clients. "Rather than judging yourself, what if you could just be curious? Have a go at considering that what you're feeling is actually helpful feedback to take notice of?"
So, taking a note from my own book, I consider that, yes, this is feedback!
Feedback that something needs to change ASAP!!
But also feedback that, no, I didn't notice my emptying bucket sooner... because I've once again been so focussed on all my "doing".
So, I ask myself: "What for?" "Why?"
What is it that has me needing to be so jolly productive all the time?
Ah... the penny drops. It's that pesky old belief that rears it's head whenever it can!
Because really... when it comes to feeling this way, I know the cure! You know the cure too!
The answer is so simple! So easy. (and so unfortunately, it's so cliche too)
Just slow down! Stop. Pause. Rest.
So simple. So easy... and yet so darn hard to actually do!
...because that old pesky belief has resurfaced and taken over again.
What is that old pesky belief?
The one propelling me to ignore my fatigue and push through regardless?
It's this:
The belief that I am only as significant as my performance. My doing. My efficiency. My being on top of it all. My trying to please others.
Thankfully, these days I am more aware (even if this time round it got the better of me), I am actually aware of this Achilles heel belief of mine.
I know about it. I see it in action. And I know how to exchange it for a better belief.
A higher truth.
I sometimes forget about this exchange, and so the old belief still resurfaces when left unchecked. But it's hold is not as strong as it used to be.
And exchanging it for a new belief does get easier and easier with practice.
So, this December I remind myself of a better belief. A greater truth.
And if this resonates with you, I'd like to remind you too:
So, this December I invite you to join me in the challenge to slow down. To say 'no' sometimes. To take a little longer to respond to emails and text messages. To take afternoon naps and to sleep in a little in the morning (if that's your thing). To unplug, go for walks and build puzzles.
...and to practice sitting on the couch, sipping tea, staring out of the window, and reflecting on the fact that this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
Wishing you a wonderfully Merry Christmas!
Thanks for being here!
Much love,
Kathryn 💖
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