It seems like most everyone has a chaotic life anymore. Even on the weekends, people are trying to make up for things they couldn’t get done during the week, or packing in as much “recreation” as they can. Life hardly seems very calm, let alone peaceful. If you want to have a peaceful life, you have to find calm amidst your chaos.
The things that cause chaos will vary on each person’s situation. Maybe it is the increased demands at work because you are short-staffed, or have been assigned more responsibilities. It could be family obligations, raising children, or caring for elderly parents. No matter what the reason it seems like you have to be on call twenty-four seven.
What is the solution? 
We all have obligations, and no one ever wants to let another person down, so we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. That pressure, however, can make us less effective in meeting those obligations. So, what is the solution? As odd as it may sound, the solution is to take some time for yourself.
You may argue that if you don’t have time to meet all the demands currently going on, there is no way you can take more time out of your schedule. I’m telling you that if you take time for yourself and invest in some good self care, you will have more time for the other things.
Why is self care important? You must be sure your cup is full before you can use it to fill the cup of others. Otherwise, the help you offer may be ineffective, or worse yet you may not be able to follow through on your commitments.
How do we practice self care?
Let’s start by turning off some of the outside chaos. Try a few of these self care tools and see which resonate with you.
Read a book for fun
If you’re one of many who enjoy reading, this may be just what you need. You can spend some time immersed in a different place or time, which will help you regain your calm. If you have a hard time focusing for long periods of time, try short stories – they can be a lot of fun. If you aren’t a fan of reading, there are always lots of good audio books available.
Listen to music
Music has always had wonderful and mysterious powers. It’s used to calm children, the elderly, and even animals during times of stress and angst. Play music that appeals to you. Dance, sing along, or just sit back and listen to its beautiful melody. Make sure the music has a positive message that will lift you up.
Reflect and meditate
Focus on everything that’s good and right with your life. Think of those you love and what you hope for them in the future. Think about your own future as well and what you hope to achieve in your lifetime. Look at the positive and give thanks.
Take time to meditate a bit each day. It doesn’t have to be for hours, even a few minutes will help. Find a quiet place. Get comfortable – either in you favorite chair, your bed, or even on a nice patch of grass in nature. Breathe deeply, and focus on the breath going in and out. Let any thoughts just pass through. Enjoy the stillness, enjoy the silence, enjoy the peace.
Enjoy time with those you love
Spending time with those you love is a great form of self care. It also helps strengthen the relationship when we make time to do things we love with people we love. Choose a fun activity that you can all enjoy. You may want to play a board game or pop some popcorn and watch a movie together. It really doesn’t matter what you do as long as it is something you all enjoy and can be together.
Get some assistance
Many noted authors have written invaluable books on the self improvement, lowering your stress, and finding your peace. If there is any area in your life that needs help, someone has probably written a book, recorded a podcast, made a video, or provided some sort of tool to deal with it. If you aren’t finding the answer with any of these, don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. Find a friend, a counselor, or a church leader to help you.
Slow down 
Take your time to appreciate the present moment, stop and smell the roses, and listen to the birds chirp. Do everything you can to make sure you experience every waking moment of every day. Don’t rush to get to the next major thing. Everything you need so desperately to accomplish will still be there waiting for you five minutes later.
If you take the time to appreciate the beauty around you, and allow yourself to work on the challenges with a peaceful calm, you will free up space in your mind to be able to handle the things you need to accomplish.
Make the time for self care, approach the demands of your life with calm assurance that you are able to overcome any obstacle that tries to get in the way of your success, and you’ll also find the peace in your chaos!
Find your purpose – find your joy!
Would you like copy of Improve Your Mindset? Just click on the link – it’s my gift to you.
Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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Email: info@SerenitiesNow.com
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