WAYS TO FIND PEACE THROUGH THE CHAOS OF CANCER

 

I'll never forget back when I was in High School and College when turning on music in my car was as automatic as putting on my seatbelt. The noise made me feel calmer. Or did it? Sure, it was a distraction and being a music lover, I always had fun singing to the latest chart-topping hits. But, now, looking back on it with a quiet car and a TV-free (unless it's intentional TV) home, I can truly say that these were just a few of the things in my life preventing me from living in a place of peace.

Sometimes, my intuition acts as a guide, such as when I worked in the advertising world and realized the true implications of my messaging to the public. The motivations behind those messages almost always came down to cash for my client and cash for my Advertising Agency. It seemed all shiny (and innocent) on the outside, but what was the basis for it all?

I felt convicted. And all of a sudden, the numbers became less of a motivation since the reality of it all came down to me creating messaging that either promoted fear (which is the basis of "good" advertising) or that irritating, but popular-for-a-reason acronym, FOMO, the fear of missing out.

All the things that take away one's peace.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? -Matthew 6:25-26

We're all aware that continuous streams of information can be bad for our mental health and our budget. Just look around your house (I'm also guilty) and recognize just how many things you've purchased that were based on an influencer recommendation, person, or ad.

So, how can we avoid these temping traps at home?

Some of the ways to guard against your life becoming an ad is to showcase special family pieces and even look to antique stores to find one-of-a-kind decor to help you stay grounded instead of always looking to be trendy. And forget fast fashion; look to the classic pieces in your wardrobe that will be just as stylish now as they will be in ten years. These simple choices promote peace in your life instead of constantly searching for the next best things.

And speaking of the next best thing, one can restore more peace simply by making space. Making space for yourself before the rest of the house comes alive in the morning is a great way to accomplish your goals while allowing yourself to breathe.

And focus on contentment.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." -1 Timothy 6:6-7

Learn the meaning of solitude and know your limits. Is your plate already full? Don't add more responsibilities just because you feel like you should. Allowing space for yourself to unwind, recharge, and even catch up on those things that you've put to the end of your list, like seeing your dentist, changing an air filter, or even working on a budget or meal plan to keep life easier, can keep you from overload and allow you to add more structure back into your day-to-day. These little things accumulate and ultimately encourage a peaceful life. And again, structure can lead to increased space.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." -Phillipians 4:12-13