How To Battle The Bully In Your Brain – Soul Breathing

Hi friend, happy mid-Summer.

Can you believe it?

If I’m being honest…these Summer days are slipping through my hands faster than I would like.

If we were meeting for coffee today in our favorite corner at the local cafe or if we were going for a brisk walk on the nearby trail…odds are I would probably share with you a few random and honest things that have been on my mind lately.

Why?

Because I’m like that…a little random and A LOT open.

And…you know what?

Some of those random things that have been bumping around my mind lately…

They might surprise you.

In not surprising news, I might rattle off that our beach vacation was super simple and wonderful all at the same time and that I’m excited to watch our older daughters play in another lacrosse tournament this weekend.

I might share that I have been on an “unsubscribe kick” for the last week in efforts to clean up my inbox and invite more white space on a cluttered screen.

I’m addicted right now to unsubscribing.

(On that note – thank you for subscribing to my little corner of the internet and meeting me here every week. Your subscription to my blog and when you take a minute to comment or forward a Notes for my Daughters blog post to a friend…means more than you know and helps me to grow…so thank you!!)

But all those spammy emails?

I am opening them up, scrolling down and clicking the tiny hidden link at the bottom tucked in light gray.

I powerfully and intentionally click it.

Unsubscribe.

Yes, I’m sure.

Yes, I realize I won’t receive all the perks of your insider info.

I’ve come to terms with it.

I’m good.

You know what though?

Sometimes cleaning up the clutter in our minds takes a lot more than clicking a few unsubscribe links in your inbox.

Eventually during our conversation, I would probably share this.

That there is a bully in my brain.

Maybe yours too?

It’s as if the Summer days are host to opposing truths of rest and ready.

The waves wash up beckoning me to sign an addressed permission slip to just be…and rest.

And yet part of me is stuck on the tightrope, gripping tightly to the balance bar in efforts to keep everything stable…ready to steady any shockwave of change aimed at our hearts.

The tightrope of my mind is where the real danger lies.

What if I just put the bully in my brain in it’s place?

Like actually, closed my eyes, inhaled and tossed that imaginary long balance bar clenched tensely in my hands that he tells me I have to keep gripping and launched it up to the sky…up to the heavens.

And trusted…that He would catch it.

Even better?

What if I accepted the truth that He has been my spotter the entire time?

My guess and my past experiences tell me that the peace that surpasses all human understanding would wash in and in the midst of the wave..I could rest and be ready all at the same time.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 NLT

I described these opposing truth emotions to a friend yesterday.

It feels like I’m slow-stepping into this new post-COVID world and my body is finally…

Un-Clenching.

My friend nodded in agreement as I shared with her another random fact;

The day before yesterday, I took a nap.

It was a really, really good nap.

It was a really, really needed nap.

Does your body ever send you signals that feel like green arrows flash pointing over the bed or the sofa as in:

“Hey you…hello? That body that is holding you together…it goes here…now.”

Put it in park friend.

Permission slip signed.

You would think that after coming off of a wonderful beach vacation I would be rested.

But my mind still said…nap…now.

And so I quickly unsubscribed from the ever present to-do list that was filling my inbox brain waves and I opted in and clicked on…rest.

Friend…I am not sure if you feel like your entire body has been clenched tight for the last 18 months holding in your breathe, afraid to let your guard down or all the pieces you are holding together will collapse in chaos.

But, what I think I am realizing is that my body and my mind…is taking one big exhale.

My friend shared that she had read a recent blurb about the actual act of inhaling and exhaling.

Let’s try it together now ok?

Big breath in…

Big breath out.

Which feels better?

The inhale or the exhale?

Right?!

The exhale!

When you inhale…it felt like the same thing I was describing to her when I shared that I felt like my whole body had been clenched for a really, really long time on that tightrope.

And?

Yesterday when I took that much needed nap…it was like I opted-in to the best exhale of trusting the honesty of opposing truths.

The truth is that we can rest and be ready at the same time.

One soul-breath at a time…your body receives permission to unclench.

Sweet friend, I am not sure of all the random little nuggets and truths that you might wind up sharing over our cup of coffee today or on our walk…but I feel like maybe just maybe you need permission to exhale.

Perhaps you are struggling under the weight of others expectations. Or, maybe your endurance is being cultivated by the continual pressures of having to make hard choices. Perhaps there are financial concerns, worries for a sick friend or an inner battle with insecurity frantically seeking external validation to silence internal lies.

I don’t know the details of your personal tightrope tiptoe…but there is someone one who does…He sees every step.

In fact, He is right there with you.

When we get distracted by our self-doubts, overwhelm or anxious thoughts and fall of our edge…as if we were on this road and we somehow just slipped off the side of it and we don’t even know how it happened, but here we are.

He is there to pick us up from the side of the road, out of the ditch, dust us off and set us back on our ways.

Let’s take another deep breath.

But this time…

Inhale the truth of His promises.

He will never leave or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

His watchful eye is on you and He even knows the number of hairs on your head. (Matthew 10:29)

He is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

His power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

He has sent us a Helper to equip and guide us when we are stressed. (John 14:15-21)

And now…

Exhale His Praise.

One last thing I would probably share with you over that cup of coffee is this inkling that I think you would really love this podcast episode: “Negative thoughts are more spiritual than you think” with Jennie Allen.

And I would also highly recomment listening to this follow up podcast with Pastor Craig Groeschel: “Breaking free from the spiral of negative thinking.”

Our minds friend…they are a battlefield…housed in the bodies that have been clenched collectively in one huge inhale.

I think it’s ok and high time we all grant ourselves permission for that needed nap, that cup of coffee with a trusted friend and that long walk with your own thoughts or an ear bud into the podcasts above.

It’s time to get honest with ourselves that even though we are what seems to be on the other side of the mountain…it was one heck of a climb and now?

As the saying goes…

We aren’t in Kansas anymore.

The terrain has changed.

And where the terrain has changed…so has the air pressure.

Time to implement some new required breathing techniques.

Soul-Breathing:

Breathe in His Grace

Breathe out His Praise.

Need help getting started with your new breathing techniques?

Listen to this song.

May grace find you there as you listen…where you can rest and be ready because He sees you and He loves you and His net is big enough to catch you and all of the pieces you are holding.

May peace find you today friend….breathe in, breathe out.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that I can trust in your all-knowing presence.

Please show me how I can breather and rest in Your shadow. Let me sense your presence today, and remember Your promises that you empower me with your Holy Spirit.

Help me to close my eyes and hand you the balance bar of tension I have been holding and receive your promises of peace. Help me to rest in You and trust in Your readiness.

Renew my mind with your truth.

Amen.

Living on a prayer,

Heather