This week, I was fortunate to have time to sit on my porch one afternoon to relax and just read and meditate on Scripture as my kids played. To be honest, I purposely made things simple for me that day so I could enjoy that time. Instead of going to the gym or killing myself with a work out, I had enjoyed a long walk at home. Instead of killing myself in the kitchen, I prepared a simple and healthy meal in the CrockPot for our evening dinner. Instead of thinking I had to work extra hours for my job or it would never get done, I gave my timeline to God; and instead of thinking I had to plan every minute of the day to entertain my kids, I realized they truly love “just playing” outside.
What I realized is this: when I focus on the basics—the simple things of life—I’m able to enjoy what really matters.
As a Fitness and Food Designer for Busy women, I have seen many women who are chasing so many different things that it keeps them from enjoying the basic things of life and ultimately keeps them from living a healthy life physically, mentally and spiritually.
Has life become so busy for you that you are no longer focusing on what really matters? Has your lack of time for “busy work” become an excuse to not exercise?
Could it be that you are:
- Trying to please other people instead of looking to please God which can keep you from feeling confident in who you really are in Christ.
- Trying to be something you are not instead of learning what God created you to be which can keep you constantly busy, yet never feeling successful.
- Attempting to do too many things at once instead of giving attention to one thing and left feeling exhausted with no energy for yourself, family or career.
- Focusing on succeeding in things that are really not important so that you feel like you are failing over and over, or are not good enough.
I love what Francis Chan says in the book Crazy Love, “Our fear should not be of failure, but at succeeding in things in life that really don’t matter.”
These are things that can keep you so busy that you are unable to enjoy what really matters. Life can be easier when you focus on the basic needs of life, which allows you to be:
- physically fit with proper diet and exercise
- spiritually fit by spending time with God
- mentally and socially fit by doing what you are called to do
Ask yourself this question: “What is keeping me too busy and keeping me from what really matters?”
To Your Health,
Coach Crystal
About Crystal Breaux
Excellent, Crystal. You made me stop, think, and reevaluate my priorities today. I want my life to matter for His Kingdom.
Great Clella, Sometimes it is the simple things in life that keep us healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. We just have to take ONE MINUTES and make sure we are focused.
ONE MINUTE…life has become so busy for so many of us; to take ONE SINGLE MINUTE to re-evaluate our plans for the day, seems impossible some days! Good reminder that we all need to slow down and take a good long look at our priorities, and start making some serious changes!
This really hit home for me. I feel like all of those things you mentioned above right now and I don’t know how to change them. I am so busy trying to be everything to everyone including God and no one is putting this pressure on me but myself. I need to learn to not be so hard on myself. I know God just wants me to love Him and others and be content but its hard for me to just relax sometimes. After reading your article today I am inspired to just sit outside and play with my kids in an unstructured activity and leave my cellphone in the house! Thanks for the reminders! I may need to print this list out and put it on my mirror in the morning to remind myself to quit trying so hard. It’s an exhausting way to live.
Maybe we should all set a timer each day as a reminder to take time to BREATHE, RELAX, and JUST BE STILL!! Or as Crystal said above, just PLAY with our kids!! That is definitely on my agenda today!! THANK YOU CRYSTAL!
We all need a reminder from time to time
Ive lost 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks!! Thanks Crystal!!!
Christi, That is AWESOME. You have been focued over the past couple of weeks and it has paid off. Good for you. Exciting
I needed this today!! Thank you for writing. Giving Him my timeline. I guess you could say I’ve been blessed by financial hardship and its brought our family closer due to not being able to go much. Everything is done at home. So my time is His.