I’m More at Peace Because of This
Happy (almost) fall, y’all!
As I write this, it’s a quiet, overcast afternoon in the Texas Hill Country, and I’m presently realizing that these are the very first words I’ve written in our new country home!
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, as you probably know all too well if you’ve ever moved all your physical belongings from one place to another. Packing. Purging. Unpacking. Cleaning. Organizing. Unpacking. Organizing some more. Arguing with your spouse about what to throw out, what to keep, where to put stuff, which repairs need to be done this very second, and the list goes on and on and on…It’s a challenging time, indeed!
But it’s all worth it. Because today, two and a half weeks since our first night here, I’m able to sit down in our living room while my son is napping, stare out the windows at shady oak trees and a sky-blue barn, and write.
Ahh… What a wonderful word write is, and what a blissful state my mind goes to when I type away from my heart. Of course, there are a number of moving-related activities that could be tackled right now, but for the most part, everything is in its place, and no boxes or bins pose a stumbling hazard…or an eye sore.
Today, September 7th, 2021, I feel more peaceful than I have in a long while. I know that a great deal of this peace is owed to the fact that we’re in the homestretch of this move, but I’m convinced it’s also the result of my husband’s and my decision to be extremely – nay, obsessively – mindful of what we consume with our eyes and ears.
I’ve written in the past about the darkness that’s unquestionably pervading our planet. I don’t have to enumerate the various forms this darkness is taking; just turn on your TV, pay attention to the people around you at the grocery store, gym, or playground, or quickly hop on Facebook, and you’ll likely learn of a news story that will either break your heart or boil your blood – maybe both.
When I was on Instagram[1], I found myself getting buried by not just troubling news, but by information that I naively viewed as helpful and necessary to know. Knowledge is power after all, right? The more we know, the more capable and prepared we are, and therefore, the more control we feel we have.
Only that’s not true at all. At least, not for me. In fact, the more knowledge I accumulate, be it about the pandemic, supply chain collapses, inflation, or human trafficking, the more out of control I feel.
When my head is stuffed with dizzying facts and fleeting headlines, I feel the way I often do with my two-and-a-half-year-old after he’s made his fifty-third mess of the day and I wonder if I’ll ever have a clean house again, much less a relaxed and laidback day.
Looking around, whether at the world, or at my house, and seeing nothing but messes makes me feel anything but powerful.
Anxious? Yes.
Weary? Yes.
Frustrated? Yes.
Exasperated? Yes.
Angry? Yes.
But not powerful. At the end of the day, I have to remember that toddlers will be toddlers, and that they’re absolutely going to behave like little savages, because that’s the way they grow and explore and learn all about two very important little words: Discipline and Consequences.
As I see it, toddlers are much like our world today: erratic, unpredictable, exhausting, and many, many times, out of our control.
When it comes to things like childrearing and current events, we can read all the books, watch all the videos, and listen to all the experts, but no matter how much information we acquire, we will be endlessly frustrated if we think it will act like a magic wand, simultaneously erasing our problems and making our every last parenting and/or political/religious/philosophical dream come true. Knowledge is power, you might say, when it is readily actionable; when it can only be stored and stared at from a distance, it is an albatross.
Social psychologist Dr. Daniel Stalder says, “too much knowledge can be scary or depressing.” I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I can attest to the scariness and depression-inducing effects of seeking and obtaining excessive knowledge, because in the last few weeks, I’ve experienced more peace, joy, and contentment, which is a direct result of taking ownership of my time, and with it, my mind and spirit.
Do I advocate sticking your head in the sand and donning earmuffs when anyone round you brings up negative news? Of course not. But I am challenging you to be a conscious consumer of what you watch, read, and hear, and more than that, to be a purposeful producer of things that are uplifting, edifying, life-giving. I think that now, more than ever, we must take special care to think critically about what we allow ourselves to be exposed to, and to carefully weigh what’s shared and reported so that our emotions remain unmanipulated, and our spirits free to soar.
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” – Francis de Sales
And now it’s time for Quote Soup, the part of the blog where I feature a few recently found quotes that I found thought-provoking and/or informative. I hope you enjoy!
FAITH:
“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” – Charles Spurgeon
MINDSET:
“Most people don’t want accurate information; they want validating information. Growth requires you to be open to unlearning ideas that previously served you.” – James Clear
“What more shall I say to you? Everything seems to me to have its just emphasis; and after all I do only want to advise you to keep growing quietly and seriously throughout your whole development; you cannot disturb it more rudely than by looking outward and expecting outside replies to questions that only your inmost feeling in your most hushed hour can perhaps answer.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
HEALTH:
“Non-Negotiables for Metabolic Health:
1.) Strength training (build muscle)
2.) Sleep 8 hrs a night
3.) Adequate protein intake
– Dr. Tyna Moore
[1] You can still find my account at @authordianatyler, but I’m not active there.