January blues have hit harder than usual for many in 2021. It’s difficult enough when the weather is grey and days are shorter. But with children at home, keyworkers fatigued, grandparents at a distance and loved ones in hospital – it can seem almost impossible to find motivation to do your work, let alone support others around you.
So, what are we going to do about it? Well, I’ve learnt that I need to look after myself.
Christians believe that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbour & our God. But how can we love others around us if we’re running on empty?
“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”
Ru Paul
This quote, while often said with significant dramatic flair, is true!
While we mustn’t become self-centred, it’s ok for you to be your priority sometimes. If you don’t find a way to be filled up, it’s going to be tough to give out to anyone else.
The Bible says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made & your body is a temple worth looking after. Now, I’m not going to suggest we all run 20km a day (people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, right?!). But what I do want to suggest is that we find a way to look after our holistic health, even in the toughest times.
Holistic health includes your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health. How do we do it? Start by paying attention to your emotions & your mind. Give yourself space to feel all the feelings. Take the time to process them. Seek support if you need someone to talk to.
With your physical health, perhaps just try and move your body in a way that you wouldn’t normally. Push yourself just a little bit more every week and enjoy those beautiful God-given endorphins!
Spiritual health is often overlooked, whether you consider yourself religious or not. But I think this one ties all the others together. Your spirit is at your very core – the thing that brings you life. To engage with being a spiritually healthy person can be as simple as being still and taking a moment. Find some music or meditation to help you focus. Perhaps even try saying a prayer – I’ve always been encouraged by the peace I’ve found in my spirit from God in these moments.
Striving for holistic health helps us to find peace and joy. I feel confident that it will also give us the energy to bring love & hope into our communities.
Saint Augustine
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
Love starts with each one of us loving ourselves as much as a Creator loves their masterpiece.
30 Jan 2021
thoughts with siân 