I am sure some of you wondered what happened to the woman who writes this blog! I can tell you this...I clearly knew nothing about the process of writing a book. Writing the book was the easy part...the marketing, and selling is so much more intense. It looked so much easier when I watched the Hallmark movie about the book author!
My head is above water and I have come up for air. I'm sure you can recall times in your life when everything was crazy busy to a point that you might have put the milk in the pantry and the ice cream in the refrigerator. I haven't done that yet. I typically head to a cabinet forgetting why I even opened the door. Everyone gets overwhelmed at some point. It can happen for many different reasons. Maybe it is due to work, a relationship, or simply living through a pandemic.
Last week, I had my first book speaking event for "The Nodders What! You Don't Want to Nap?". I had not been on a work roadtrip in over eight years. I thought it would be like water rolling off a duck's back and I could easily get back into a travel routine. I started several days ahead gathering all the technology that I would need for travel, I packed my bag and had everything together, being like Santa and checking my list twice. I was ready to rock and roll....or so I thought.
We arrived at a wonderful home in Monteagle and I began to unpack....where were my charging cords for my phone and watch? Not with me, they were back home along with several other items that I had forgotten. Thank goodness, my precious husband had all his cables and was happy to share with me. The book event was lovely and we made it back home safe and sound, but I did need to make some adjustments in my travel routine for future book events moving forward!
Lately, I have been asked to write articles for several online and news outlets about the importance of routines for toddlers and it occurred to me that I needed to adjust my own routine and expectations of what I could get accomplished. When life changes, we have to make adjustments too.
Mark sometimes calls me head-strong. I am a perfectionist, a list maker, very determined to do a great job at whatever I do. Thus, I can become overwhelmed, feeling buried beneath the lists of to-do's and expectations. Once, I can see myself going down into the to-do list abyss I am reminded of who is in charge of my life.
So what do I do when I can see myself becoming overwhelmed?
I have to step-back and focus on God.
2. Be still is a great way to start. Psalm 46:10 says Be still and know that I am God.
3. Remember God is my source of strength. Matthew 19:26 says "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
4. Resting in God makes the list look lighter and easier to accomplish. Jeremiah 31:25 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."
5. Stay focused on God to accomplish all I need to do. I find this helps me get more done! Isaiah 40:31 "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."
6. I pray Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you."
If you are overwhelmed, discouraged, or depressed pull out your Bible or purchase Jesus Calling by Sarah Young so you can begin to learn how to let go and trust God. Have a blessed week and cast your cares on Him...that's what I plan to do.
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