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Are you staying awake for your life? If you’ve found yourself simply coasting along, you could look up one day full of regret for the moments you missed.

As someone who is driven by setting and achieving goals, I have to remind myself to stop and smell the roses. When I’m intentional about being present in my life, I’m amazed at what happens next. It’s as if I’m suddenly operating on all cylinders. The moments slow down and the world around me begins to come to life. 

Once you begin to approach life with this level of awareness, you’ll wonder why you’ve spent your days any other way. But the truth is that sometimes it’s hard to keep your eyes open when you are exhausted physically, spiritually, and mentally.

If rest isn’t a natural state for you, there are a few ways that you can begin to shift from feeling run down to feeling refreshed.

 

Lean into laughter

When was the last time you laughed? Like a deep-belly, on-the-brink-of-tears kind of laugh? I don’t know about you, but life can be so serious that I have to seek out joy. Sometimes that’s with the help of a good girlfriend inviting me to celebrate her birthday in Costa Rica (more on that in this episode of the podcast). Sometimes, that means doing things I love without the stress of doing them perfectly. Focus on what brings you joy and keep people in your life who know how to bring the joy out of you. As Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, there’s “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Give yourself the space to feel it all.

Engage with others

When you live life on autopilot, you’ll find it difficult to connect with the people around you. It’s especially hard when you’re so focused on your own situation that you don’t have space for anyone else. And there are definitely seasons in life when it’s just tough to get around the tiredness you feel. 

When you take the step of calling a loved one on the phone for a few minutes or striking up a conversation with the cashier at the grocery store, you might be surprised at what you discover. Before you know it, your perspective will shift and you’ll begin to see the bigger picture as to why you’re here. And as you begin to see others, their eyes will be opened to you as well. 

Look beyond your world

I know that the news can be overwhelming, to say the least. It’s much easier to close your eyes to all of the conflict and sadness. However, if you take the approach of looking for ways to find a solution to a problem, you will feel more empowered to find ways to help those in need.

Your friends, your family, and your community are all made better when you show up ready to give what you have. A kind word, a donation, a place to stay, a shoulder to lean on. You never know how your impact can change everything for someone else.

But before you can do anything for anyone else, you have to pour into yourself. You have to rest. And when you wake up, you’ll have a renewed sense of self and the world around you. Sometimes you just need a nudge from a friend to remind you to shift from existing to living. So this is me, telling you that it’s time to put down the weight you’re carrying and wake up for your life.

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Stepping out of your comfort zone
  • Listening in new spaces
  • Getting involved in your community

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Let’s Talk!

  1. When you think about the current state of your life, are you fully awake to the world around you? Are you coasting along?
  2. What are the things that bring you joy? How can you incorporate those things into your life?
  3. How can you make time for rest in your life? How might more rest allow you to fully show up for your life?

 

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How to Listen to The Podcast

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1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

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You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!