Serenity

One of my favorite words is serenity.  The idea of peaceful being, present in the moment without being frazzled, resentment aside, anger diffused, and worry thwarted is heavenly.  I have not perfected the art of being serene all the time, but I have found it some of the time.  I believe that being truly healthy includes mindfulness, relaxation, and a peaceful disposition.  As a new mom, I find moments of peaceful serenity even more difficult to find and hang on to, what with the sleep deprivation that some of my friends assure me will never go away and all.  As I'm sure you experience, life can be so fast and demanding.  When I am mindful and aware of myself, I can find serenity in just moments.

First, I take an inventory of my physical self.  How do I feel, physically?  I take a deep breathe, sometimes close my eyes.  If I feel any tension or discomfort, I move or massage that part of my body until it releases or I'm more comfortable.  I might sit on the floor or comfortably in a chair.  I take another slow, longer, deeper breathe and feel the muscles in my shoulders, neck, back relax.  Go ahead, try it.

Research has shown that deep breathing helps relax the muscles, reduce blood pressure, and increase oxygen available to the brain so we can think more clearly.  Most of us are shallow breathers.

Then, try to relax my thoughts.  I try to quiet the voices that are calling me to do this task or make this decision.  For me, it helps to focus on my faith.  Whatever is pulling at me, I imagine laying at the feet of Jesus.  Sometimes I think of Him seated on a throne and I literally approach and put whatever it is in His lap.  I have done this with my work, my past, my marriage, and my son, among others.  I know that He loves me and will take better care of the things that worry me that I ever could.

Finally, I focus on a truth from scripture - a concept, passage, or even just a word to remind me that my life is good.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:25-34

My Heavenly Father loves me and is caring for me now.  He was always with me in my past and is already ahead of me in the future.  I can rest in this moment and know that He is here.  That is serenity. He loves you too.  Take a deep breathe now and find yourself some serenity.