Simply put, today I’m sharing really easy tips on how to find some peace during a time that may feel like complete, overwhelming chaos. Because sometimes life hands you lemons. It feels like the stars are misaligned. That your hand of cards will never be a good one. That things just simply cannot go your way. I know you know what I’m talking about… Those days when you ask yourself “What’s a girl gotta do to catch a frickin break around here?”

Photo courtesy of my two year old last Halloween. ☺️

Truth be told, I’m in the midst of one of those phases that feels like all the wrong things are swallowing me whole. Like for real, can SOMETHING good just revive it all for me? I know though, that this life (lemons and all) is exactly what God has delivered me. Whether it be for learning purposes or the journey to my bigger picture that I can’t see yet, it’s all meant to be.

Unfortunately, I’m not always good at refocusing on that key point in the heat of the moment. I can get caught up in the chaos (especially when the kids are crying, I’m behind on work + have let laundry pile up) and don’t take a step back to reflect.

I really just need an internal alarm to go off when I need to catch that frickin break to remind me to take a moment to breathe. That is, instead of going all crazy and crying uncontrollably about all the things I really cannot control. (Hey, I’m pregnant!) Instead, I need to take that step back, refocus on what is good and important in life and do a few simple things to catch MY OWN break.

Need to catch a break, too? The steps are actually pretty simple.

1. Take a deep breath.
   Let it out. Breathe in and out and maybe even exhale via paper and pen. Or like me, type, as I sort through the mess. Most certainly, though, simply taking a few deep breaths allows me to remove myself from the “I’m getting swallowed alive” feeling and provides a more stable internal environment to move forward. It will for you too.
2. Find your good people.
   THIS. I need to go to my good people when I need to catch a break, and you should too. Whether I go to them for a listening ear, a good laugh, a hug or just a distraction, those good people will sense that you need them even without divulging all of the details of what’s going on + love on you in all the right ways.
3. Listen to something inspiring.
   By filling the space in my head where my own crazy (or negative) thoughts could take over with something inspiring, I’m always left feeling better. Sometimes we just need to replenish ourselves with good stuff and we can’t always create that good stuff on our own.  Pick music, a podcast, an audiobook (this one on repeat!) and let it fill your mind with inspiration and goodness.
4. Exercise.
   Getting my body moving, sweating (and getting fresh air) are all major ways I like to clear my mind and just get myself to feel better. It’s not always the first thing I want to do, but when I remind myself of how good it feels after + just get started, I never regret it. Even if it’s not your thing, just go for a walk. The benefits are amazing.
5. Practice gratitude.
   I hosted a Week of Gratitude via email a few months ago and I wanted to pull this from one of the messages I sent: “Life happens in the most beautiful way if we graciously let it.” I wrote this at the end of telling my story about how, while in the midst of my struggle to get pregnant, you never would have heard me say that I was thankful for that struggle. But rather, it took time to be able to reflect and look back to appreciate how our life has worked out. Why am I telling you this? Because practicing gratitude isn’t always easy (especially during said times of needing a break) and it’s not always right in front of us. But, if we choose to give thanks for our life and everything in it, beauty will come. So for today, I’m going to do a better job of giving ALL the thanks for what’s good in my life and trust that what’s not will reveal itself to me in a brighter light later on, just as our fertility struggle did.
6. Squeeze the ones you love.
   Hugging my babies and being comforted by my husband give me SO much rejuvenation. Squeezing that innocence and loving on them takes some worry and sorrow away. Those sweet, sweet girls (+husband included!) of mine really do wonders for my soul. Those loved ones of yours – squeeze them hard. You’ll feel the goodness.

Thanks to my stars misaligning at the moment, I’m reminded of how I can catch that break I’m longing for. Actually, I don’t have to catch it at all and no one even has to serve it to me. I just have to refocus and center myself in what is good + important. I’m working on doing these little things to rise from it all and know I will come out a-okay.

So wherever you are today – whether it be in a place of rejection, lack of support, spinning your wheels, constant battles of any kind – my wish for you is that you can take a step back and implement a few of these steps so that your heart and mind can clear for a little more happiness.

Inhale – Make it a beautiful day – Exhale – Go do it.

XO