rest, part six

6. rest: a mental journey

Personally, setting boundaries relationally and physically has been MUCH easier for me than setting boundaries mentally. Being intentional about relational investment, choosing to carve out monthly prayer retreats, saying "no, thank you" to opportunities...though challenging, these choices have seemed easy compared to the continual struggle I have to rest in my mind.

By nature, my brain is always humming, processing, creating, trouble-shooting, in short--working! For years, I considered my multi-tasking auto-pilot a gift. Perhaps not :-). Mental multi-tasking has several shadows including not being fully present for others, not being able to pause between responsibilities, and increasing my vulnerability to stress.

So Jesus and I are working on this one. Actually, He's patiently encouraging my very slow progress. For those who share my struggle, here are a few principles I keep before me:

1. Years ago I read a sign that said, "when you walk, just walk. when you eat, just eat." What a concept! It hints of truths from Brother Lawrence's writings about savoring God's presence in this very moment.
2. I have a limited amount of daily emotional and mental energy. Long-term it is much more valuable for me to use that energy being thankful for today instead of trouble-shooting tomorrow.
3. When I'm stuck on a thought/problem, I ask God to mentor my mind. Often I'm just thinking instead of thinking WITH Him. What a difference that small word "WITH" makes!
4. At night, I fast problem solving--otherwise I would have trouble sleeping.
5. I use my daytimer to write challenges down and carve out time to process them. Today, for example, I want to think through everything to pack for the upcoming family road trip. But the best use of time is to postpone that processing until the flight home from California instead of eating up precious family time today.
6. I screen phone calls and try to answer business calls only during my scheduled office time to both protect family time AND to not turn on my brain about decisions that can wait until tomorrow or the next time I'm in my office (which is above our garage).
7. When I'm tempted to over-work things in my brain, I take a few deep breathes, turn my thoughts toward Jesus, and talk with Him, remembering that He is with me and that--since He hasn't had a hysterectomy :-)-- His memory is impeccable. He remembers even what I forget. If it's that important, He is perfectly capable of bringing it back to my mind.