Hey girl! 👋🏻 I hope you are having a great week so far! I know that sometimes life can get hectic or heavy. To be honest, this week has brought forth some new stressors in my life that haven't been fun to navigate. So, starting today, I want to begin a new little series and share with you a some of my favorite tools that I keep in my back pocket for those moments of needing to take a deep breath… or even moments where things are thankfully calm and I simply want to sink deeper into that feeling of tranquility. One of the best ways we can manage stress is by developing healthy, proactive habits that help us keep our nervous system better regulated and more conditioned to being in the parasympathetic—rest and relaxation— response. This way, whenever stress does come, our bodies will be more flexible and able to do a better job at transitioning out of the fight-or-flight response back to a rest and digest, calm state. Think about the moments of engaging in relaxing activities as little training sessions for your nervous system. You are conditioning it to know what it feels like to be calm and be able to return to that place more easily after a stressful event. I have noticed that when I am incorporating these habits regularly, I am more resilient when stress does come. And, even if I have not been as proactive in some seasons, these are some of my top strategies I go to whenever I need a reset and recalibration. So, here is Tip Number one for you this week: 🐿🌲🌊 Go on a walk outside in God's creation. 🌷🌿🌧 There is nothing like listening to the birds chirping, feeling the sun on your skin and wind in your hair, and getting out of the house or four walls of the indoors. Even if it is raining or the weather isn't ideal sometimes, it still is so worth it to put on the right gear and step outside into a moment of refreshment and a change of scenery. Going outside engages our senses and helps us return to being more present in the moment rather than being anxious about the future or replaying the past. The gift of walking that God has given us is incredibly simple, but also so immensely refreshing to our bodies and brains. So put on your shoes, grab your rain jacket if you need to and step outside to feel the breeze in your face and see the sky, and remember, God is with you. He delights in you. He is in control and cares deeply about you and your situation. You are so loved, and He will never leave you or forsake you. Let the incredible beauty of His intricate creation remind you just how intentional He is with every detail in your life. Even the hard things or things the enemy means for evil, He turns for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20). He is trustworthy and good. ALWAYS. 💛
Before we go into the rest of our day, I want to leave you with one of my favorite verses and promises from the Lord to meditate on today. I am praying this verse over you and send you my love, sister! 💕
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Cheering you on, girl!
Heather 💛
P.S. Are you looking for an encourager and someone to support you in developing sustainable healthy habits? I think you will love my new 1:1 faith-based health coaching program The Evergreen Method!
Click here to book a free consultation with me today! Let's chat! 📞
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