Archive for February 20, 2015

HALT

 

imageDefinition:   bring or come to an abrupt stop.  A suspension of movement or activity, typically a temporary one.

 

The word HALT makes me think of a big German soldier as he puts his hand up stating “HALT Who Goes There?” it must have been in some movie or as kids are running down the hallway in the house and you have to stop them by stating firmly, “HALT what’s all the rush?” As your intuition is telling you they are probably up to something.

 

Have you ever come to a complete HALT?  Perhaps it was while traveling down the freeway or highway and traffic seems to be flowing very nicely and you turn the corner or come up over the hill and all of a sudden every lane of traffic is stopped?  Or perhaps you are in an elevator and you are coming down several floors and it suddenly stops abruptly without warning the doors may or may not open.  This can all cause a bit of irritation and stress.

 

What about your life in general?  Have things been going along rather smoothly and suddenly you receive a phone call or an incident brings a sudden change and your life is instantly at a HALT?  Me too…

 

Well this brings up a very good point maybe the HALT we really need to discuss stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.  The last blog post was about Blah…I really disliked how I was feeling so I decided to put the brakes on and come to a complete HALT to figure out the root cause of those feelings.  Bottom line I self-diagnosed myself in having H.A.L.T.

H – I was Hungry not necessarily for food but for clarity and purpose. I no longer wanted to be the hamster in the wheel going round and round and not getting as far along as I liked. Reacting instead of Responding.  Basically burned out.

A – I was Angry deep inside for changes that were completely out of my control and it was weighing heavy on my soul.

L – I felt Lonely because so much of this I felt I was doing on my own.  It is unchartered territory.

T – I was Tired, physically, mentality and emotionally.

 

This truly has some merit.  Being Hunger, Angry, Lonely or Tired are conditions that leave us more vulnerable to temptations that lead us away from the person we are truly met to be.  How many of you when stressed do not eat properly?  Did you know sometimes the onset of anxiety or sudden drop in mood can be traced to our having forgotten to eat so our blood sugar levels are off kilter?  Sometimes we may be carrying resentment, or feeling lonely or we are just too tired.  “Takin Time Out” from our busy schedule is so important to ask ourselves if we are feeling too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, and this will allow us to look deep inside to our feelings.  When we know what we are truly feeling we can make better choices and take the appropriate action to eat proper foods and drink plenty of water, breathe in deeply to release the anger, find and connect to better relationships, REST and hit the reset button.

 

The first of the year I joined a Mastermind group, these amazing women are teaching me so much.  This past week we discussed how important it is to carve out appropriate time for Self-Care, especially when life is hectic and out of control.  If you don’t take care of yourself; you won’t be able to take care of those you love the most.  Self-Care doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend lots of money…it means to take time to do something to fill your tank.  Perhaps it is going to the library and read, taKing a long walk or run, just sitting in silence, having coffee or tea with a good friend.  Others may want to get a massage, facial, play golf, tennis, cycle, rock climb.  Go out to eat and for those who have a spouse or partner plan a date night once a month.  I know it can be hard to find a sitter with little ones but one of the ladies has a very close friend and they trade out watching the children.  The girlfriend actually goes to her friend’s house later in the evening and puts the kids to bed for the night and then she has 2 to 3 hours alone time (self-care) while her friend and husband go out to eat or to a movie and the next week they switch.  I thought that was a very brilliant idea.

 

You know scripture talks about how important self-care really is.  Exodus 31:17 “…in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”  When is the last time you did something for just yourself?  If it has been a while maybe it is time to plan and make that date with yourself.  For those of us with busy schedules maybe we need to set an appointment with ourselves, block that time out just as you would if it was a business meeting.  Most importantly DO NOT FEEL GUILTY!

 

As you are “Takin Time Out” and come to a HALT this week make plans for your date with self-care and then as Nike states “Just Do It” … I promise you will be soooo glad you did.  Until next time breathe deeply, eat properly and relax…tomorrow is a new day to begin again refreshed!  It’s time for me to refill my mug with some savoring green tea and draw my warm bubble bath with candles and soft music…yes that is a little self-care…

 

I would love to hear what you do for self-care…leave your remarks below!

 

 

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BLAH

imageDefinition:  used to refer to something that is boring or without meaningful content.  Used to substitute for actual words in contexts where they are felt to be too tedious or lengthy to give in full.  “the typical kid, going out every night, blah, blah, blah”

 

This week I have really struggled to find the word I wanted to Blog about.  I have an ongoing list but nothing really resonating with me.  As I sit here sipping on my warm cup of orange spiced tea on this extremely cold February night… I am gazing into the computer screen.  Hmm, I decided to be completely honest and open with you.  Let’s face it I have had a bad case of the “Blahs!”  I usually try to be uplifting, inspirational and more of a positive influence…it just disappeared this week.  I am being real, I don’t really like how I feel yet I feel it!  I wouldn’t say I was depressed, I am not feeling hopeless but I just am not myself.  It is hard to put my finger on it; I have tried to figure out why these feelings suddenly appeared.  I know it is temporary and hope it leaves me soon but for now I have officially confessed I have the bad case of “Blahs!”

 

How many of you have felt this same way?  In life we have to take the good with the bad and some days or weeks just aren’t as nice as others.  For some it might be work, or home or you didn’t sleep well maybe you haven’t gotten enough exercise.  Whatever the reason, having a blah day is really part of being human and learning to accept and push through the blahs as it is imperative if you don’t want to let your moods rule your life.  No we can’t stay in bed with the covers over our head or blame someone else for our bad behavior.  The trick is to recognize that you aren’t feeling as good as you’d like and then rise to the challenge and make yourself feel better in some way, shape or form.  Maybe it is an extra cup of coffee (for me tea), chocolate or a cold shower something to energize our soul, some may want to go shopping?  Yet this is only a short term fix and a matter of time before we crash again!

This week I have stopped and “Takin Time Out” to determine that the past few months have really been so intense with back to back deadlines, unexpected changes, holidays, family obligations that my tank is literally empty.  I have listed new possibilities, goals and dreams yet I don’t have the energy to even pursue getting started this week.  I also may have a little seasonal disorder as I require the sun to be shining for me to be 100% and we have had fewer of those days lately…I know for my Northern friends I have no right to complain so I am not, it is simply a statement.  I have recently changed my diet so some of that may be part of it as well, cleansing out the toxins that are unhealthy and in a few days I am hoping to find the clarity and motivation I desire to live life to the fullest again.  Why we fall into those bad habits so quickly is beyond me but I am guilty and stress sometimes causes those bad decisions.

I would like to share some random ideas to help you overcome the blahs and enter into a world of magnificent…

1)    Meditate and pray your way through

2)   Imagine yourself doing something pleasant

3)   Put on some music that inspires you

4)  Breathe Deeply – Focus on positive energy

5)   Drink plenty of water

6)   Write in your gratitude journal

7)  Slap yourself silly-find a movie or Comedy club and laugh find those belly laughs

8)   Do something for someone less fortunate

9)   Workout (Yoga, Jog, Walk, Weights)

 

Are you guilty of doing the same thing over and over again, getting weary and feeling empty?  I know scripture is a good resource to help overcome some of those bouts of the blahs here are a few that may help refocus:

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

When I say the word Blah…I also think about listening to certain conversations and the other person is beginning to sound like my favorite Charlie Brown cartoon and you have that person sounding like …”Blah Blah Blah!”  They can be so boring or redundant yet I know I need to stay engaged and offer advice or comment from time to time.  Maybe it is your spouse?  I know mine sometimes thinks my comments are Blah Blah Blah…LOL!  Yep in one ear and right out the other or we like to call it selective hearing, gotta love him though!

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Whatever the case whether it is a seasonal Blah or conversational Blah let’s push through and overcome these feelings!  If you don’t overcome in a few days I encourage you to seek wise counsel to determine there isn’t something more serious.  Enjoy your “Takin Time Out” until next time I hope each of you are feeling well and good-to-go my friends…

 

 

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