Are you feeling weary? When you consider all that is happening in our lives and in the world, how can we not?!!? I know I certainly am.
Along with this post, you may find this post (with video) helpful, 7 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health and Well-Being.
Here in the US we just came off of back to back political conventions for the big presidential election happening November 3rd.
The political climate has been rife with strife anyway, but the speeches at each convention threw gasoline on the already fiery Twitter-verse, social media platforms, and news channels for angry, bitter tirades.
And lest we forget, we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Then let’s add racial injustice, a category four hurricane that hit the gulf coast of the United States and other near-by islands and raging fires in California.
If you are a parent with children in school, you may have to make a decision whether to send them. If they stay home, you have to teach them, which, if you have a job – how does that work?
If you are a care-giver, having to be extra careful due to COVID-19 can make you feel even more overwhelmed and isolated.
If you are a business owner, you may have to be creative to adjust what you are doing to pay the bills and earn a profit again. (If you are a woman business owner, author, speaker, coach, there’s help for you through a monthly event I’m co-hosting every first Friday called The Gathering. You can learn more and register for free.)
I know that I can easily become weary if I meditate on all that is happening just in the United States.
Feel Good with Good News and the Good News
As I was writing this, my memory went back to a visit from Pope Francis. He came to Washington D.C., New York, and Philadelphia September 22-27 of 2015.
I remember our nation being in a good mood. The news media and social media covered good news all week. It was energizing. The entire country seemed to be united in harmony.
He spoke to Congress about the Golden Rule. In front of the 9/11 Memorial, he spoke about the Beatitudes and the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. In Philadelphia, he told the story of Saint Katharine Drexel, a Pennsylvanian who had a private audience with Pope Leo XIII in 1887.
She told him of the challenges faced by African Americans and Native Americans back home and asked that he send Catholic missionaries to help. (The date of her meeting was not lost on me.)
He asked the question: “What about you? What are you going to do?”
Katharine took that meeting to heart and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was canonized by Pope John II in 2000. She is the first US born saint.
The apostle Paul tells us to, “not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” And he goes on to say, “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.”
The good news is that we have our faith and the power of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to bring us peace and the power to endure.
When you Feel Weary Give Help – Ask for Help
Our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
You don’t need lots of money to start a foundation. You don’t even need to leave your house.
How can you sow some seeds of goodness? Make a call, send a card, send a text, let someone know that you care about them. Think twice before you react to a social media post. Will you contribute to the meanness or will you contribute in kindness?
Ask those you reach out to if they need help. Most of us don’t ask for anything. We take asking for help as a sign of weakness. Unless you ask, people won’t know your needs and those needs won’t be met. So, if you need help, ask for it, even if it’s just for someone to listen so that you know you are not alone.
In whatever role you play: your given job, an entrepreneur, parent, grandparent, or caregiver, keep doing what is right. And taking a needed break is right too so that you don’t become so weary by running down your immune system.
In part of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi he says, “For it is in giving that we receive.” When we give, we receive joy in giving, in “doing what is right” and doing good.
Don’t grow weary. Look forward to the harvest. What simple thing can you do today to make a difference for someone?
If you are a woman business owner, author, speaker, coach, don’t forget to check out the special invitation to The Gathering. If you know of anyone like this, please forward this post to them. Thank you!
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