Kristin Fields Chadwick

Episode 34 Show Notes

I sure am tired of being resilient, being flexible. Life has been full of plot twists and shifts beyond the typical temporary foreseeable future.  For most people 2020 has been a season of character development.  We are rounding out the year with another round of our world making adjustments to the ever changing pressing need of protecting ourselves from a virus.  I have a whole episode in me about the ways to actually take the offense on a healthy immune system vs a defensive position against this covid.  But that will be for next time…

This week has been a doozy around here.  For those of you who don’t know, I have been homeschooling one of my four kiddos, while the other three were in school via a hybrid system and a full time system.  The three school attendees were sent home this week because of a positive covid case in their school and many others who have been exposed. I seriously doubt we have made it almost a year without exposure to someone who has corona.  Navigating three students online, one homeschooled, and working on my podcast production business and continuing to build my own business has been tiring.  Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for each thing.  All is a gift.  We also have been grieving as a family because we have lost two grandparents within three weeks.  There is grieving to be had around here, as well.  

Yesterday as Joshua and I were walking our Banner Dog, I said, “I’m tired of being resilient. I’m tired of being flexible.”  Do you ever feel that way? You just want to sit on the floor and just pout? I sure do. There are days when I feel on top of the world and there are days when I feel like I am standing in the middle of that quote “If you’re dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”  The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollable, the lack of structure really freaks me out.  So, I wanted to invite you into my process…when I feel like I just don’t have it in me to be flexible or resilient.  

First, I take a quick moment and breathe. I picture my head laying on Father God’s chest and hearing his heart beat. Aligning my own beat to his.  My anxious thoughts, my reeling head begins to slow.  I focus on the present moment.  This is all I have. This moment. How do I lean in and trust and surrender to this moment?  I will tell you that in the midst of homeschooling- I’ve never learned this more quickly in my motherhood-  be present.  Be present. Be present. Use your five senses to help ground you into the moment.  AKA mindfulness.  And trust that He is in the moment.  Even if you don’t feel Him.  Then I make a list of the 1 or 2 things I could do the rest of the hour, day, evening that will help push the needle more towards my goals.  Then,  I thank God. I list out in my journal the things I am grateful He did. And then…I rest.  And I give myself validation. It has been a lot. And that’s okay. He is building in me character and perseverance.  

That’s a little snippet of my process…and you know how that process developed? Lots of practice! Lots of asking God what works for me. Lots of working through old patterns of thinking with a coach.  Lots of digging into WHO I AM, Who He Has created me to be. The most important is the constant going back to Jesus and being real, asking for Him to reveal the Truth, and asking for help along the way.  

Resilience is vital to life.  My hats to you, Mama, Teachers, Parents who are all developing our character muscle this year.  And let’s remember that Jesus has a big hug for those of us who have become weary of the unending flexibility this season has to offer.  It’s like endless opportunities of practicing resilience.  Jesus said, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.”  Matthew 11:28.  We have more of an opportunity than ever to discover the Truth offered here.  Do we KNOW this in the core of our being? He didn’t say we would be without trial but He did say, He is an oasis.  So, how do you turn to Jesus in the moments of weariness? Do you picture talking to Him? Do you participate in a relational interaction? He is offering refreshment…will you take a drink?  Will you accept the invitation to meet with Him? He is our oxygen. He is the reason and the explanation when people ask me all the time, “How do you do it all?”

If you don’t know how to do that, let me help you! I’d love to coach you in this process. Visit my coaching page and check it out.