What happens when Seasonal and Intentional Living meets the hustle and bustle of the year-end holiday season? Is there such thing as finding balance? Here’s an honest account of my attempts and lessons learned.
Earlier this month, I shared a message with the Virtual Village, encouraging them to rest and prioritize themselves. I suggested things like asking for help and disengaging when needed. At the same time I admitted that I wasn’t fully following my own advice. But I offered that we could find ways to both move with intentionality and still participate in The Grind. Well, it didn’t take long before my body sent me a message of her own and got me to actually slow down for about two weeks. [Wait, haven’t I been here before?]
The Good Intentions Behind Intentional Living
It happens. We know the choices and actions that set us up for success. We knowingly nod and appreciate sound advice when we hear or read it. Sometimes we even do those things and follow that advice. Other times, we allow something else to take top priority for a while, deciding that our less-than-best-selves will have to do. And it seems, as I’ve learned, that sometimes the road to burnout is paved with good intentions of intentional living.
Can it be Both?
So am I wrong in thinking both can be true: Is it not possible to truly recharge in a season of productivity? And can we not find a way to balance meeting our own needs while still handling our business? I think it is and we can. It’s also true that sometimes we just get sick and that doesn’t mean we’ve failed.
The reality is I have three young children who bring home new germs from school. I had also been staying up later than I know I should. Of course my immune system was not as strong as it could have been and, as a result, I couldn’t do a lot of things I was hoping to (maybe I’ll learn this time?). But you know what? I recognized that -even while laid out- my value didn’t change. My less-than-best-self was still good, still appreciated, still loved. Understanding this helped me to finally focus on what I needed in order to get back to a healthy state and to not feel bad about “all the things I wasn’t getting done.”
Now for the “Doing” Part of Intentional Living
So what does this mean for slow and intentional living? How do we flow with the season and the movement of the natural world around us in a time when society expects so much more? We do the things we know to do. Check in with yourself, give grace, communicate your needs to the people around you (they want to show their support). Drink water, call a friend, and give yourself permission to put some things down. Allow yourself to sit down and trust that the people in your life will manage AND they will still value you. It’s so easy to get caught up in the constant movement but you have to make the choice to do these things. That’s why they call it “Intentional living.”
As I write this, I’m still not back to 100%, but I’m feeling much better. I’m trying to honor my body – giving her space and time to heal. Maybe I should re-read my own words, like on Slowing Down with Nature. In the meantime, I’m asking for help, choosing to focus on one thing that will hold High Priority status each day, and reminding myself things are gonna be okay. And when I do rest, I’m trying to do so with both intention and actuality. 😉
Where or when do you feel challenged when it comes to Intentional Living? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments. Let’s encourage each other as we all do a little bit better together.
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