Tag Archives: rest

coaching

Just Breathe

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Matthew
Matthew 11:28

Lately, the schedule has been so crammed packed full, it feels like there is no time to eat or sleep… let alone breathe! The past couple days have been soul-searching days when I have found the overwhelming desire to just unplug from life and regroup, re-prioritize and get refreshed.

Last night, I was reminded of this song by Johnny Diaz called Just Breathe.  (Click to listen) It is just what I needed to unwind…

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel You say just

(chorus)
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
Wanna make the most of time but I feel it slip away
I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me
There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear You say just

(chorus)
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need

(bridge)
Is to take it in fill your lungs
The Peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe
Let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe

(chorus)
Just breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
Just breathe

Can anyone else relate? It’s time to take a breath, slip away to a quiet place and enjoy being in the Creator’s Presence. Take a walk in the woods, on a bike path, enjoy nature and the great outdoors during these nice spring days. Breathe in LIFE! L’Chaim!

Here is another song that a friend shared with me. It is a word for someone….  Tell Your Heart To Beat Again by Danny Gokey.

Resting in Father’s Arms,

Coach Shannon

coaching

Loving Yourself

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Enough

Matthew 22:37-39- Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second likewise is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This verses sticks out in my mind the more I support and coach women. The question I ask is this – In what way do you love yourself?” If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, how is this being portrayed? I often catch myself trying to treat those around me much better than I treat myself…then wonder why I feel so empty inside?! 🙁 So I wrote up a list of ways to “love on myself”.

Love

1) Listen to your body and its needs. If your body tells you “I need sleep” – then get ready for bed and allow 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If it says “Feed me”, then give it wholesome, healthy, homemade food! 🙂 (No processed junk!!) If it says “I’m thirsty”, give it good clean water! Your body craves plain water, or water with a little lemon or lime for flavor. You can get these here. And if you have already eaten and an hour or two later you think you are hungry again or feel like eating a snack, try drinking a glass or two of water. Most likely your body is asking for more water instead of food!!

2) Forgive yourself for mistakes made during the day. We are human- but we do not need to use this as an excuse either. We will make mistakes this side of heaven, but we need to get up, brush off the dirt, say “I’m sorry” to whatever body part was injured the most, and try again!

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3) Speak kindly to yourself. Speaking words of accusation over your body will only pull you deeper into a pit. Our bodies CRAVE words of love from our own lips. I have a dear friend who had hammer toes. She was having a conversation with God one day and she heard “Today we will love body parts”. She asked where to begin and God said “Let’s start with your toes”. So she looked down at her hammer toes, told them she loved them & how cute her toes were. She thanked God for her toes and for the years they have worked for her. Slowly over time, her little toes are becoming straight! This is a true story!! 🙂 God loves it when we love on ourselves! —This is the manner we need to speak over each of our body parts!!

Doug Addison

4)Trust your gut instincts – because many times we know what we should be doing, but our flesh does something different and then we chide ourselves, hate ourselves and speak negative, unhealthy words about ourselves, etc.

5) Make a playlist of your favorite songs and play them in the evening after you get home from work. If you work from home, you can still play them- whenever you like! I have a list of favorite YouTube hymns and a list of Instrumental Hymns plus several favorite artist playlists on my iPad that I play.  Here are a couple of my favorite Hymns and Instrumental Songs. You can sing along or dance to them- it lets the enemy know that you are defeating him by worshiping the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD!

6) Light some candles, have a small glass of your favorite wine, play or cuddle with your pet dog or cat >^..^< or read an inspirational book while curled up in your favorite chair. Take time for YOU! 🙂

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7) Spend time in prayer and meditating on the many blessings we have been given from our loving Heavenly Father. Spend time thanking Him, praise Him during the storms of life and praise Him when the sun is shining! And Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, & 31 all repeat “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  A quote I read once said “Take a few minutes to pause beside the still waters of God’s Word. Drink deeply and you will find it cool and refreshing.” 

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8) While the number 7 means “completion“, number 8 means NEW BEGINNINGS! So for number 8, give yourself the gift of YOU. Schedule time in your day for something that you can do to reward yourself for the hard work of the day. Get a massage, a favorite meal, one piece of dark chocolate etc. You know what you have been wanting for YOURSELF, but have been neglecting to give it. And for fun, if it is possible, wrap it up in pretty paper with a bow, then give it to yourself and enjoy unwrapping it like a child does on their birthday! 😀

Perhaps you can relate to this or maybe you have written your own list? What do you do to love yourself? Email me at mannafoldblessings@gmail.com or comment below!

Until next week ~ Coach Shannon

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coaching

Top 10 tips to slow down

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Calm

1. Take the time to prioritize daily objectives. By focusing on the most important tasks to get done, we eliminate the hustle and stress of trying to accomplish everything at once.

2. Cut personal internet use by half. Technology has become a major element in most of our lives. Social networking, email, and web-surfing can occasionally cause our minds to lose focus and wander through hundreds of topics, thoughts and ideas. Try to use half your designated internet time to explore new hobbies, exercise or meditate.

3. Enjoy nature. When time permits – take a 5 to 10 minute break to step outside and breath-in some fresh air. Disconnect from the rest of the world and concentrate on the beauty of nature.

4. Eat Slower. A lot of us tend to speed through meals – missing the chance to appreciate different textures and flavors. Start to chew foods more slowly while trying to distinguish new tastes, aromas and consistencies. Not only will you enjoy your meal, you will also digest your food better and decrease bloating and indigestion.

5. Connect with family and friends. We all try to make a considerable amount of time to spend with close friend and family. We discuss life events, exchange stories – but how often do we catch-up while truly listening and connecting? Put away the cellphones and steer clear of noisy environments. Connect on a deeper level.

6. Make time for yourself. When’s the last time you spent valuable time by yourself? Take a night to find a new book, watch a favorite movie, meditate or cook a new recipe.

Ann Voskamp 2

7. Give yourself more time. Some of us like to stick to a tight schedule and plan all our daily events. Next time you’re jotting down new tasks in your planner, try to factor in a few extra minutes when estimating how long things will take. This will help you not rush through daily tasks.

8. Take the scenic route. Next time you’re driving a somewhat long distance – try taking the scenic route. Driving through open fields, mountains, or viewing a city skyline can be very relaxing. Check out the scenic routes before your next trip!

9. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer. Even just a few moments of meditation can set the tone for the rest of your day. Try to empty your mind and take deep breaths before jumping into your day’s tasks.

10. Remember your goals and aspirations. Each morning when you wake up, take a few moments to think about your life goals and aspirations. Try to recall the milestones you’ve already made in your life, and you’re drive to achieve new ones. Try doing this for about 5 minutes before finally getting out of bed to start your day.

Be Unproductive

Have a wonderful day!

~Coach Shannon 🙂