“Meditation means letting go of our baggage, letting go of all the pre-rehearsed stories and inner-dialogue that we’ve grown so attached to.” – Andy Puddicombe

It’s been hard for me to focus – and remain focused – since late spring. Since my hospital stay, I have felt overwhelmed, disoriented, disorganized, and chaotic. I had to force myself to stick with assignments as I finished up my MBA.

My thoughts and ideas were all over the place. I tried to create a routine in order to cultivate some sense of structure in my life. In the scheme of things, my plan was too ambitious! Additionally, I could not stay grounded or focused to see it through. My mental and emotional health were neither where they needed to be.

Blatantly, I needed to work on myself.

My world had (and has) been turned upside down. I tried to regain my ground. I wanted to reorganize my house, meal plan/prep, and get back into a solid workout routine. That didn’t happen.

My energy was nonexistent after returning home. I began therapy, working through trauma and past hurt which lead to PTSD. I was making progress. Three months after my surgery, my dad passed away.

Now, we are looking at a reassignment. I’m excited, however, my mind began swirling with new tasks and thoughts. So, how do I manage this?

Schedules

One thing I have learned about myself through therapy is the fact that I find peace in the feeling of control. Meaning, I like to plan. I crave routines, schedules, and structure. My mind spirals when I do not stay on track.

I can control my schedule to a certain degree. My morning routine is pretty much the same as it has been. First, always coffee! Next, meditation and journaling.

Likewise, I can carve at least 30 minutes from my day to be active. I started lifting weights this past week. I realized just how much strength I had lost this past year. I strength train, followed by a kickboxing HIT workout three days a week.

Being More Intentional

When I was setting my planner up for November, I wrote “Be more intentional!” What does that mean?

Being intentional is being able to see particular future outcomes that, if realized, would make things larger and better for yourself, your family, and your life. An intentional focus is a devoted, purposeful, and deliberate style of thinking about your family and life.

So, how do I plan on doing this?

• Prioritize my mental and emotional health.
• Embrace my talents and skills. Learn/Remember who I am and love the person I am.
• Honor my core values; what I find important in my life.
• Set goals.

Moving to Arkansas, even though I’m returning home, is a new start for our family. New house, new community, new school, and new responsibilities. Now, more than ever, it will be important to live intentionally, especially when living a faith-filled life!

Meditation

Meditation has really helped me focus and regain control over my wandering thoughts! I never thought I could get a grasp on these little monsters. They would run amuck and anxiety would take over. So what is meditation?

Meditation is a mental exercise that trains attention and awareness. Its purpose is often to curb reactivity to negative thoughts and feelings. These can be disruptive and upsetting and hijack attention from moment to moment.

Studies show that meditation helps improves concentration, lowers tension, and fosters a sense of peace. When combined with mindfulness techniques, it keeps individuals rooted in the present and may assist people in recognizing and accepting unpleasant feelings.

Meditation has multiple health benefits. It affects parts of the brain that regulate the autonomic nervous system, which controls processes like blood pressure and digestion. Both are significantly impacted by long-term stress. Meditation successfully treats ailments such as heart disease, chronic pain, and others via its physiological benefits. Additionally, it helps people better control their emotions.

Meditation is a strategy to prevent or avoid negative self-talk, ordinarily hard to ignore for persons who suffer from anxiety or other stressors. It can be used to help break the cycle of negative thoughts or behavior by creating an emotional buffer.

Goals

I tend to be very goal-oriented. Goals reflect the choices we make and the commitments we make in order to accomplish our objectives, break some bad habits, acquire good ones, or achieve more in many aspects of our lives.

With my current state of mind, I feel like I need to set small goals. This would allow me to stay focused and create a routine (and habit!) before growing into larger objectives. It’s all about achieving your goals, right?

In November, I am taking it week by week. Continuing what I started in late October, I want to continue meditation and work out five days a week. Additionally, I have asked myself to restart the scripture journal.

What God Says

If you want to live a purposeful Christian existence, you can’t let life pass you by or feel like you’ve missed it. Instead, you desire to pursue your goal in life and complete the race that God has prepared for you.

Isaiah reminds us, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NKJV).

God wants better for me; for us. I want better for myself, my family, and you! I desire to live a purpose-filled, joyful Christian life. I want to experience the life around me.

How about you? Do you or desire to, live intentionally? I’d love to hear from you! Comment below. As always, prayer is always welcomed! Likewise, I would love to pray for you. Drop a comment below or send me an email. I don’t need details. God knows! Much love to you all! And until next week!