Are all the enthusiastic people that are ready for a new year annoying you? Are all the energetic individuals smashing their fitness goals or business plans or ticking things off their bucket lists on thrill-seeking holidays getting to you a little?
Honestly, I am exhausted just hearing about it.
Maybe you are like me, already feeling stretched thin, already falling behind on some of your well-intentioned resolutions or still searching for some of that new year energy that is flooding your social media feeds.
Are you like me, still searching for renewal?
I have been contemplating the exhaustion from a wonderful but busy season of giving – time, gifts, energy, patience, love, forgiveness, joy – and wondering why there wasn’t something that just switched over on January 1st for new energy.
This feeling has come hand-in-hand with guilt. Guilt for knowing how much God has provided for me and wanting to give to others but lacking the motivation to put that into action. Guilt for relaxing and taking time out for myself, hoping I’m not selfish.
Neuroscience has demonstrated that giving creates a sense of joy and can improve overall health. Giving is an activity that increases our brain’s production of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These neurochemicals not only boost our mood but they help us sleep, digest, learn, connect and eat better.
But it has to be the right kind of generous giving and we must give something to ourselves. You cannot give if you are empty.
My favorite piece of the 2018 Archibald Prize exhibition is titled, ‘Self-Care Exhaustion’ by Amber Boardman. It humorously depicts a lady attempting to relax but actually experiencing ‘me time’ as another long to-do list.
‘Self-Care Exhaustion’ by Amber Boardman
Trying to read all the books recommended to us, go for that walk/run in the morning, drink that disgusting green smoothie, find a new hobby or continue an old hobby, can not only become an exhausting endeavour and defeat the purpose of relaxing but can lead us to become more self-focused. None of these activities are negative in and of themselves, however, this painting prompted me to consider that it can be easy to lose sight of the reason we want to look after ourselves.
It is essential that we look after ourselves so that we do not burn out. So that we can continue to do well in our jobs and roles, be there for our family and friends, and get the most out of our lives. Therefore, we could benefit when we are stretched thin by remembering that we need to balance giving to ourselves so we are able to give more of our time and energy to others. That is not selfish.
Jesus walked through life’s challenges and many times He sought solitude or took time out with close friends to pray (Mark 1:35; Mark 1:45; Mark 3:7; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12-13). He is also the giver of rest.
He promised, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.
(Matthew 11:28)
So my encouragement to myself and anyone else who hasn’t caught the ‘new year’s resolution’ bug is to find something enjoyable to you, not something the world tells us we must do to relax and to fill yourself from Jesus’ promises, the Giver of Rest and Life. We must balance giving to ourselves in order to give to others.
AUTHOR: Mikaela Borrott