Tag: spirituality

How to Soar

I wrote this poem several days ago but haven’t been able to post it until now. It was inspired by something incredibly sweet that was said to me by a friend – words that really encouraged me and made me feel like God was using me to be a help to her.

How to Soar

Tears of joy stream down my cheek…
I’ve never felt this way before;
That God, who answers as I seek,
Has led me through an open door.
The choices I’ve made – both bad and good –
He’s used to cleanse and change my heart,
Even though I have never understood
Why He’s allowed the things that tore me apart.
I know my God is good – He’s proven it’s true;
And He’s shown me time and time again
That if I will only follow His cue,
He’ll guide and direct me to the end.
I don’t know what He has in store,
But I know He wants what’s best for me;
He’s slowly teaching me how to soar
How to let go, and how to live as free.

© by Crystal Knauss

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Baby Steps Forward

I’ve been having a dry spell with my writing. I very much want to “put pen to paper” and script something that is inspiring – but the words don’t seem to want to come.

Have you ever felt this way?

You have so many thoughts bottled up inside, and yet you can’t translate them into words and sentences and paragraphs. You sit in front of the computer waiting for the inspiration to come…but you’re left listless and despairing. You try to search for ideas on the internet, but none of them quite hits home in regards to how you’re feeling at the moment.

That’s where I am. So I’m trying to push through this writer’s block…and hopefully into a better state of mind.

I’m still struggling a lot with depression and anxiety. I lack energy and motivation, obsess about little things, and get overwhelmed easily. But I must say that God has been helping me. He has surrounded me with family and friends who are there to help. He has continued to teach me the importance of being grateful. And He has encouraged me with His Word and His presence.

So I guess He’s been enabling me to take baby steps forward!

And with this New Year ahead – along with so many unknowns – I can trust that He won’t leave me helpless. I have a God who loves me deeply and who longs to see me flourish under His care.

 

Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash

Living with Lethargy

Lethargy – noun, plural lethargies
1. The quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity.
2. Pathology. an abnormal state or disorder characterized by overpowering drowsiness or sleep.
dictionary.com

I struggle a lot with lethargy. It’s been an unwanted companion of my depression for many years. I have to fight to get up in the morning. I have to fight to stay awake throughout the day. And I’m always very happy when bedtime comes around and I can tuck myself into bed for the night.

But it’s not just fighting against sleep. It’s an extreme lack of energy that inhibits me from accomplishing even small tasks. Taking a shower, preparing meals, and paying bills are a few examples of tasks that can be overwhelming to me.

Why is this such a struggle for me? Well, for one, it’s a symptom of my depression. And on top of that, it’s a side effect of several of the medicines that I take to help with my depression. Sometimes I feel like the medicines cause more harm than they do help…but looking back, I have been better on them than off them.

So what do I do to combat this lethargy? I try several different methods. One is that I aim to do everything in baby steps. By breaking down tasks into smaller chunks, it can be more manageable. A second technique is to give thanks for and to allow myself to feel good about the little tasks that I complete. This encourages me to keep pushing forward. Third, I make use of caffeine. I enjoy the taste of coffee and it contains the caffeine that I want, so you will often find me sipping on a cup of joe. And lastly, I have been doing a  Five Minute Energy Routine by Donna Eden on a daily basis. My therapist shared the routine with me, and although I don’t understand all of the science behind it, it does seem to help.

What are your tips for fighting lethargy? Do you have a specific idea or method that really works for you? I’d love to hear about it in the Comments! ❤

 

Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash