This month we decided to highlight something that we have been working on hard this year. REST. We as a culture can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of our ‘busy’ lives that we can lose sight of what is truly important. Hear me when I say that I am preaching to the choir when I talk about this. I have to work so hard at this topic which is why we wanted to dive into it this month. Looking back at my life, I have realized that I have never done this well. In school, I was involved in every sport and club that I could be a part of. I was at some event most nights of the week and always had something to do. This continued even in chiropractic school and my first couple years of practice. If someone asked me where do you find rest, I would say ‘what is that?’. Being alone with my thoughts and reflecting was not a comfortable space for me. I realized that sometimes I was involved in things just for the sake of being busy, but also because a part of me deep down didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts. I had so much negative self-talk that it wasn’t something that I wanted to do purposefully. But, life starts to catch up with you over time and eventually you have to start working through those issues. When I started going to counseling, I learned that to be of service to anyone else, I had to take care of myself and that I deserved to do it. I had to learn what I needed and where I could find rest within myself. Naturally, I started reading and researching and trying out different things. I found that everyone is different and every season is different. I would do one thing for a few weeks and then shift and find something else that I liked or responded to better. I want to highlight a few things that I have found have really helped me. This is nowhere close to everything that is out there or the right thing for you. If you try one thing and don’t like it, find another. Never stop searching for yourself.

Journaling - This one was hard for me. I have never been one to write. I have always thought that I was bad at it. So, the idea of writing down my thoughts was exhausting. But, through some reading of different blogs and books, I have found that this is a great practice. There are so many ways to journal and I have found for myself that the typical style of journaling was not for me. The way that I found this tool helpful was to use it in a positive way. I started a gratitude journal. I would write down 5 things that I was grateful for that day. Sometimes they were simple things like ‘I am grateful for this fuzzy blanket that is keeping me warm on a cold, winter day.’ Then, I used it to find the beauty in the hard things in life. One of my gratitude entries was, ‘ I am thankful for this headache, so I could rest on the couch today.’ I tried to see that even in the hard days, there was still so much to be thankful for. One other thing that I have added to my journaling here recently is to write down where I succeeded that day. So often I feel like I fail. Most of the time it is me telling myself that I could have done better. Sometimes it is all I can see. So, I have been writing down things of where I succeeded on that day. It has been a great practice for me and has been so helpful.

Meditation/Mindfulness - There are several apps out there to help with this one. I have used Insight Timer, Calm and Headspace apps for guided meditations. Even if I can take 3-5 minutes and just turn to my breath, I notice how much calmer I am in my day.

Reading - I am one to be reading several books at one time. Actually giving myself time to read is one of my most consistent practices. Even if it is just a few minutes right before I go to bed.

Tapping - We have gone over this one before, but it is great to repeat. If there is something that I am really having a tough time with, I pull out this tool. If you are not sure where to start with this, going to www.eftuniverse.com is a great place to start.

Movement/Exercise - I have always been one to exercise but I am the one that can get to a point where my exercise is sometimes too much. It is my stress relief but it can also sometimes cause me stress. Adding in a movement practice, even if it is just a 1-2 minute flow, can just calm down the nervous system and be restful. Paul’s Movement Monday videos are a great place to start.

Community/Friendship - Rest can also look like going out for coffee or lunch with a friend. It is time to get out of your own routine and share your heart with someone other than a significant other or family member. Find your tribe.

Going for a walk - This has been a recent addition to my resting practice. Going for a long, slow walk for just the sake of slowing down. It is a time to just be present with nature and your thoughts all while still moving.

Getting out in nature - There is a big movement going on right now called forest bathing. It is along the same lines as grounding. Nature is one of God’s greatest gifts. It reminds us that there is something bigger than ourselves and that it is all around us. Getting out in nature and seeing the beauty can remind us how amazing this life truly is.

Cultivating Silence/Quiet Time - This is so important for me. I am around people all day long and I love it, but I have learned that my own quiet time is my time to recharge. My quiet time is never the same. Sometimes I read and other times I am taking a walk. Just being with my thoughts and taking time to recharge.

Putting down our phone and being present - This year, one of my goals was to try to be more present with everything around me. One of the ways that I chose to make this goal happen was to set limitations for my phone use. I set time restrictions on my social media apps as well as times where I just put my phone away at night. Paul and I have made our dinner time a sacred space with no interactions. We have made a commitment to each other to sit at the dinner table each night with our phones put away and just be present with each other. This practice has quickly become my favorite thing that I look forward to every day. Where could you be more present in your life?

Now, let me share some real truth. I do not do these every day. It is not something that I am perfect at and am still learning what I need in each season. Most of the time, those negative thoughts are the first thing to go through my mind. I used to shame myself and get frustrated that they were still there and had not ‘gone away’ yet. What I have come to learn though is awareness is key. I don’t think those thoughts will ever truly go away. They might always be there and it might always be my first thought. But, I am getting so much better at recognizing them. Once I recognize them, I can pick one (or two or three or all) of these tools to help me remember my truth. We are all going through something but we all deserve to find our rest. If you are like me and those thoughts are playing in your head like a broken record, stop shaming yourself. Let those thoughts come. Let them come and then find your way to be at peace. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. It is a constant practice. Don’t ever give up on yourself. Finding your rest is important, just like you are.

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Finding Stillness Amongst the Chaos