Feeding and Filling
Hey family!
I recently wrapped up my first summer semester of grad school. Needless to say, those last few days had left me low on energy and motivation. When I felt this exhausted, the first thing I thought about is how hard this is or how impossible it feels to keep my head above water.
To recharge, my first step was to accurately and honestly assess how well I’ve been feeding my mind and spirit lately. Then, I started noticing some of my own patterns:
When I started to feel overwhelmed, why was it that the first parts of my schedule that I trimmed out were those related to maintaining my well-being? When it felt like there just wasn’t enough time in my day and life got busy, why did I put aside the activities intended to help me manage that stress? As I wrote this, it became abundantly clear to me how senseless it is to remove the very things from my life that are designed to help keep my peace when I need it the most. Unfortunately though, it seems like a lot of us tend to do this pretty often.
The fact is that we are more than equipped to handle anything life throws at us, but that’s only if we are providing ourselves with the necessary tools, space, and time to combat mental exhaustion. Like the old saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
I understand…with an already busy schedule, it can seem like sculpting some purposeful you-time into your day is counterproductive. But when you consistently fill your cup, you’re in a better position to move through your day more intentionally and are better able to stay in the present moment. On top of that, those around you inevitably benefit from your overflow. Consistently pouring into yourself will have a trickle effect onto your relationships, work, school, and just about everything else.
The bottom line is this: meeting the demands of everyday life and working through them effectively and sustainably has to be supplemented with adequate effort to fill your cup, in whatever way that looks like for you.How much you pour into yourself daily is a measure of how much of yourself you can give sustainably.
Remember, if you won’t choose a time to rest, recharge, or participate in something that will rejuvenate your mental or your spirit, your body will choose a time for you (and it’ll almost always, ALWAYS, be at the most inconvenient time).
The quote for this week comes from Bulleh Shah:
“You have learnt so much and read a thousand books. Have you ever read yourself?”
Reflection question: How do you feed your spirit and your mind, and how can you make sure to prioritize it during stressful/busy times?
