You are ready for summer.

If there are days where you feel 

your body is too tired

to fill the room with laughter and good stories

in the way 

your heart wants to. 

it is okay 

to not be all you feel you have to be for everyone, 

and to focus on breathing, 

and being, 

knowing that even when you are quieter

and your smile comes a little slower

you are not empty 

you are not any less significant

You are a traveler

on a journey

who is simply in need 

of rest

in the arms of the kind of peace

where she is free

 to just be. 

-Morgan Harper Nichols 

I wonder if most of us feel the pressure to present ourselves a certain way. I know that it's almost automatic for me - wanting to make sure I maintain a certain appearance - not wanting people to see me in weakness or struggle. 

I could probably count the number of times on one hand when I haven’t worried about what someone was thinking of me. 50% of the time I’m most likely thinking about how my body looks/what people think of how I look, and 50% of the time I’m wondering if people like me or if I’m being ​_______ enough (whatever I think I should be in a given situation). Maybe a few of you can relate to that, and if you do, you also know how exhausting it is.

This is an extreme for sure - I’m not always consciously thinking these things. Sometimes I’ll have a quick thought after talking with someone, or if I like someone’s outfit I might think about how I look for a split second. But it’s still fairly frequent.

It would be easy to say, “well Whitney, just stop caring what people think” but realistically, it’s not something you can change overnight. Typically it takes time to heal and learn how to view yourself in a loving, compassionate way. 

Here are a few things that have helped my friends and family:  

Another thing that has helped me is diving deeper into who I am in Christ, and realizing how significant I am to God. There are still actions that I’ve needed to take, but I’ve done them prayerfully - realizing that each one I put into practice is getting me closer to appreciating and affirming the person God made me to be. 

It’s okay if you’re not the fullest version of yourself right now. 

Maybe life has really knocked you down and you’re not sure how to get up. 

It’s possible that you’ve been down for awhile and are slowly moving forward. 

Maybe you’ve realized that you can’t be everything for everyone and you’re trying to set better boundaries.

Maybe you’re in a season of grief - from the loss of a loved one to the loss of abilities, jobs, dreams, etc.

Maybe you’re at odds with your body - you struggle with weight, skin issues, body composition, etc.

Well friend, it might be time for you to learn how to rest.

Sometimes one of the best things we can do for ourselves when we’re struggling is to take a break.

Grab coffee with a friend.

Take a bath.

Say “no” to something.

(say “yes” to something).

Go for a walk.

Sign up for a class.

Meet with a counselor.

Spend some time in prayer.

A lot of us when we think of “rest” imagine laying on the couch, zoning out in front of the TV (don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good movie/TV night!)

But “resting” isn’t passive, and sometimes what is most restful to us requires action.