Life is hard. I don’t think anyone is going to argue me on this.  We all have our share of unexpected hurdles and obstacles that we have to walk through. Balancing everything from our marriage, our children, and our own emotional needs can easily run us down and switch us into autopilot quickly.

As I got older, I quickly learned that we never really have a grasp on life.  Once we think we have it figured out, life throws in a curveball just to keep us on our toes!  Trying to control everything thrown our way is a sure-fire way to burn out quickly!  However, I have learned three keys that help me stay grounded even in the midst of chaos:

• Heart Check: While it’s important to make sure we are keeping our physical heart healthy, here I am referring to your spiritual heart.  Our hearts tend to be forgotten about, which is a shame because our hearts are what keep us connected to God and others.  Everyday, it processes what is going on in the world around us and if left unchecked, it can easily get overwhelmed.   I encourage everyone to do a daily heart check.  Before you even get out of bed in the morning, take a moment to connect with your heart and take an inventory of how it’s feeling.  Your heart is the vessel in which you see life.  So if your heart is angry, hurt, or overwhelmed, you will begin to see everything through that lens.
• Community: When life events happen to us, it’s easy to not have a clear perspective because we are emotionally attached to our situations. It’s important to have people in our lives that are able to speak into our lives and offer words of hope and encouragement.  It’s also important to surround yourself with people who won’t just say what you want to hear, but are willing to speak into areas that may be vulnerable.
• Self Care: This concept is easier said than done, especially for those of us who are moms.  We tend to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of our family’s needs that we easily forget to tend to our own!  I love the analogy of the oxygen mask on an airplane.  If an emergency happens when flying, the airline attendants stress the importance of putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting other passengers.  This is because you simply cannot help someone to the capacity they need to be helped if you are not first taken care of! Self-care could look like staying consistent with your workouts, making healthy home cooked meals, or taking a nice long bath. Whatever helps refuel your soul is exactly what you should be doing.

             So I encourage you today, to not allow yourself to get caught up with the chaos that surrounds you.  Take time to check in with your heart, connect with your people, and take time for yourself.