Be Still and Know

"When life gets hard, we fall to our baseline of preparation. We do not rise to our aspirations" John Eldredge. 

Last year ended, and this year began with chaos for me personally. Both my husband and I had health issues to deal with. My father-in-law passed away, and on top of that, all the worldly chaos that everyone is navigating. 

Maintaining healthy habits becomes challenging during times like these, but it's also when we need them most. 

I came across a podcast, Our Time To Rise, with an interview with John Eldredge last week. He mentioned the quote above, and its truth struck me. When life is hard, we will not rise to our aspirations but instead fall to the baseline of our preparation. If our wellness habits require Herculean strength to keep up, then maintaining them during times of difficulty will be impossible. But, if our wellness routine is based on a simple intent and the core DNA of the routine is made up of simple nonnegotiable actions, it will be sustainable. Then, we can fall back on these practices to see us through the hard times.

My wellness non-negotiables are;

1. Eat whole foods daily (vegetables, fruits, lean meats)

2. Move daily (even if it's just walking, stretching, or squeezing a stress ball)

3. Pray daily 

I have a yoga mat with the verse "Be still and know" from Psalm 46:10 printed on it. It reminds me to stop striving, to stop trying to do it all with my own strength, to fall back on the 3 non-negotiables, and to let God do the heavy lifting. This allows me to rest, and eventually, the clouds lift, and I can return to my regular routines, often with renewed strength, focus, and creativity.

What are your non-negotiables?

Find the above mentioned podcast here