letting go of your mental laundry pile
Lately I've been having these ongoing stressful thoughts in my head constantly reminding me of how much work I have to do, what's not being done, and how far behind I am. I'm getting so tired of them stealing my daily joy. I realized the other day that I'm stressing out because I'm deciding that things are a bigger deal than they really are.
Having stuff to do every day will not go away anytime soon, so I can with the Lord's help either choose to enjoy doing these tasks, stop doing them altogether, or find a way to make them work better for me.
:: example of what goes on in my head:
problem: This pile of dirty laundry is not going to go away. Ever.
:: usual {negative} thought pattern:
I have so much to do. It will never go away. I feel defeated and I haven't even started because it's never ending. Even with all my crazy laundry hacks, I can't stay on top of it with everything else going on. Ughh.
:: realization with the Lord's help of what needs to change:
1. My perspective is skewed. I really don't have that much to do. I have maybe 2-3 loads to wash and put away. I'm getting overwhelmed for nothing. AND... it is not a big deal to have laundry to do. We are blessed to have clothes and machines and electricity to wash them! :) There are much bigger problems to deal with in life than having lots of laundry to wash.
2. Maybe I also have too much laundry to do because we have too many clothes. A blessing has become a curse because it's not enjoyed in moderation. I need to stay on top of cleaning out excess {something that has improved significantly since I've realized this!!}, and be more careful of what I buy in the future.
3. I have lots of helpers who I haven't been training to help me with this increasing load of work. At 4, 6, 9, and 10, they are more than capable of not only folding and putting away like they already do, they are also more than capable of running a load all on their own. I need to assign chores more often than I do to help them take on responsibilities of their own.
q: if the laundry buzzes and no one hears it, does it actually make a noise?
:: result of replacing negative thoughts with reality:
I let go of the laundry anxiety I'm holding on to, and can implement solutions to actually help the situation instead of dwelling on what's not happening.
Maybe it's my personality, or maybe it's a woman thing{?}, but sometimes I let all these silly molehills become mountains in my head, and eventually they steal my joy because I'm giving them too much reign in my thoughts. Does that make sense? :) I really feel like it's an effective tool of the enemy to take what God has given me to do and make it overwhelming and difficult in my mind when in reality it's just not that big of a deal. :)
The same is true in relationships- so much more goes on in my head than is really there, and bearing all these mental burdens does not benefit me- it actually does the opposite. It's just so helpful to get a better perspective on a situation. If there are solutions, great, and if not, I'm thankful to let go of these mental burdens. :) God is so good to help us when we ask for it in prayer {and sometimes even when we don't ask for it! :P}, and to change our thoughts when we go the wrong way.
With the Lord's help, this week I'm working on getting the right outlook on my daily activities this month. I love my husband and children, and even when I'm tired, I want to serve them with joy. What needs to change should change {whether it's the task, the way I'm doing it, or just me!}, so that I can love my family before and in my other daily responsibilities. :)
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Do you ever feel like your mental laundry pile is overwhelming you?
How do you focus on the Lord when you are stressed?
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