As I write this, I am freakin' exhausted, lol.
It's been a super busy couple of weeks around here, and the days have been packed practically from the time I wake up into the evening. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm saying this to share what is simply quite true: I feel exhausted.
Would you be inclined to debate me on whether I "should" feel exhausted? I'm guessing that you wouldn't. It's simply a felt experience and a fact of my experience as a human being right now, right? Yet, what if I said, "I'm disgusted." Does that change anything? It's still a feeling, and a human experience. However, even if you wouldn't debate me on my feeling disgusted, would you allow yourself the same grace?
Or, would you tell yourself something like, "You shouldn't feel that way. You have it so much better than others. You better not admit that you feel that feeling because that's not a "Godly" feeling. Say what!? Didn't God make us in His own image, and doesn't our make-up as human beings include having a full range of emotions?
Now, consider feelings like "anger," "sadness," "boredom," "loss."
Have you ever been made to feel like you "shouldn't" have those feelings?
For instance, have you ever had someone tell you, "They're in a better place" when someone you love passed away but your feelings wanted to shout, "But I'm mad about that because I want them here with me!" People may be well meaning, or they may be mistaken, or they may have trouble watching others have the full range of their emotions, but whatever the reason, people often try to super spiritualize so that we don't feel the unpleasant feelings.
Have you ever heard these unhelpful statements?
"Turn that frown upside down."
"Count your blessings, it could be worse."
"Just think positive."
"At least it's not worse."
"Just let it go."
How do sayings like this make you feel?
Invalidated? Guilty? Shameful? Selfish? Judged?
What if we simply did something radical and left out the "shoulds and shouldn'ts?" What if we simply feel and process our feelings and move on having felt them but not let them run the whole show? What if we let others simply feel their feelings, too, without trying to "correct" them?
If you've ever thought that you "should" be strong and not have unpleasant feelings, you might like to listen in to this week's podcast. You can check it out by clicking here.
Are you exhausted? Like, it's just too much, exhausted?
Yeah, I feel it too.
Sometimes I'm exhausted because I put so much energy into something and haven't had enough time to regain personal and mental space to fill up on energy again.
Yeah, I feel it too.
Sometimes I'm exhausted because I put so much energy into something and haven't had enough time to regain personal and mental space to fill up on energy again.
What is taking up your energy recently?
How do you personally fill up on energy again?
Sometimes, I'm exhausted trying to please all the "red tape" things in life, like filling out tax forms, or taking the dog to the vet, remembering to pick up stamps, or keeping up with continuing education credits for my counseling license.
Sometimes I'm exhausted because I overthink things, and then I connect things to other things in my brain, and I need to turn my brain off for a bit because it's just too much. And, sometimes, I'm just physically tired.
I know you've been there.
Exhaustion is a real thing.
Sometimes, I'm exhausted trying to please all the "red tape" things in life, like filling out tax forms, or taking the dog to the vet, remembering to pick up stamps, or keeping up with continuing education credits for my counseling license.
Sometimes I'm exhausted because I overthink things, and then I connect things to other things in my brain, and I need to turn my brain off for a bit because it's just too much. And, sometimes, I'm just physically tired.
I know you've been there.
Exhaustion is a real thing.
We can see more clearly and not get caught up in a lot of noise in our heads or from the world around us.
To hear more on this topic, listen to this podcast: 15 Therapist Sayings that Can Help You
ANNOUNCEMENT!
The SHINE Subscription, is about to go live this Saturday, February 15, 2025. The SHINE Subscription is like having a personal coach, a friend, a devotional partner, and a daily planner right at your fingertips as it gives you bite-sized prompts and helpful downloadable tools to use as you go through your day as well as helpful suggestions and mental health tips each week. Best of all, it is just $16 a month to subscribe to something that can definitely make life simpler.
The first two weeks of the SHINE subscription focus on the concept of rest: personal rest/spiritual rest, and resting in God and include other helpful resources for managing life with less stress. I hope you'll join when it becomes available this Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Each month will have a new theme of focus, so that we can dig deep together and continue to grow and glow in the Lord and in our mental health.
For now, though, I invite you to take a moment and breathe deeply...just for a moment, take in a really slow, deep breath, and slowly, slowly release it. Rinse and repeat. This helps your nervous system to reset when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or stressed, and it just feels so good when your muscles can relax and be reenergized.
The SHINE Subscription, is about to go live this Saturday, February 15, 2025. The SHINE Subscription is like having a personal coach, a friend, a devotional partner, and a daily planner right at your fingertips as it gives you bite-sized prompts and helpful downloadable tools to use as you go through your day as well as helpful suggestions and mental health tips each week. Best of all, it is just $16 a month to subscribe to something that can definitely make life simpler.
The first two weeks of the SHINE subscription focus on the concept of rest: personal rest/spiritual rest, and resting in God and include other helpful resources for managing life with less stress. I hope you'll join when it becomes available this Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Each month will have a new theme of focus, so that we can dig deep together and continue to grow and glow in the Lord and in our mental health.
For now, though, I invite you to take a moment and breathe deeply...just for a moment, take in a really slow, deep breath, and slowly, slowly release it. Rinse and repeat. This helps your nervous system to reset when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or stressed, and it just feels so good when your muscles can relax and be reenergized.
