‘Peace’

Simplifying = Many Benefits

What’s the single universal indicator that life is going great or decently alright?

You have peace.

Now, I don’t mean one or two-off ‘peace’ as in-you feel nice and calm when things are going right and you’re on vacation sitting in the sun reading or something…I mean ‘peace’ as in-fairly consistently enjoying life and being in a relatively good mood even when all the sh#t has hit all the fans.

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I didn’t always know that real kind of peace.

In fact, I only had my first taste of the true meaning of the word in the last five years or so.

Obviously quitting drinking helped physically with alleviating anxiety and the benefits of better sleep. It also helped relieve unnecessary stress on my bank account.

Increasing outdoor activity helped along with eating for my own body and learning to understand what it means to let go of all fear (which is easier said than done, I know).

Another big one was and is currently something I am constantly honing in on.

See, the two most important resources we have are our time and our energy. Life is precious and our time is short so, when needed, I make intentional efforts to create distance or completely step away from commitments and people who don’t serve me well.

When I say ‘don’t serve me well’, I don’t mean that I am all-deserving and all mighty and others are here to serve me blah blah blah. That phrase simply means I realize I can’t be everything for everyone and I understand if my level of peace is off for any reason that I must take steps to simplify external pressures…even if they are perceived as positive ones.

As Ecclesiastes 3:2–8 says in the scripture titled ‘A Time for Everything’, it’s not only okay to take action on things that don’t serve you anymore…doing so is the lifeline to existing well.

Pruning is part of our being — our life — and should be considered necessary without guilt and shame. Select activities, interactions, groups or individuals that don’t serve you anymore can and should be let go.

Like a tree that can only grown and flourish when pruned, we as human beings can only function at our best when we get rid of and, at absolute minimum, are aware of stressors, outside factors and expectations we aren’t supposed to carry that demand of our precious time and energy.

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From increased joy, to better health, a longer life span, healthier relationships success (whatever that means to you) and overall contentment, taking strides to increase your everyday peace — which means choosing peace even in less- than-ideal circumstances — there are endless benefits to living intentionally, refusing to walk in shame and letting go of the ‘prunelivables’.

Here’s to the start of making choices that work for you and your family…you got this!

-Becky