The byproducts of being relaxed

Not exactly sure when this epidemic of “overachieving” started—somewhere between mandated college degrees and the Minute Manager series, maybe, but the fallout from all of this has not spawned attractive traits. The proof would be in the proverbial pudding as one example of this would be to compare the number of teen suicides in the last twenty to thirty years with those in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

I am appalled just hearing of the average teenager’s (and younger, even) schedule. They literally meet themselves coming and going. They have become addicted to fast pace and then when they don’t have it…the “B” word surfaces. They have literally lost the ability to know HOW to relax, WHY to relax and what can occur when we DON’T relax. They cannot even appreciate “down” time any longer; they make plans to attend an event or create an event.

This is not limited to teenagers, either. The teenagers inherit the cycle from the parents. They have been programmed to believe it is “sinful” to not always be doing “SOMETHING.” ADD and ADHD has become not just acceptable but the “preferred” way to live.

Sitting still offers theoretical vital virtues of inner peace, mental clarity and emotional resilience. We all need time to process and think and resolve the mistakes our parents made with all of us as well as the good they did for us. We need time to evaluate everything we have done on a given day or the previous day. We need to think about how our thoughts and actions affected our creator as well as the blessings and talents God gave to us. Are we using them to glorify Him and to help others?

If we take the time and force “still time” to happen every day in our lives, we can stop the loop of anxiety and unhelpful thoughts. Being still can help us stay steady and peaceful when life feels like a storm closing in on us. Being still gives the brain time to rest SO as to help us to make responsible decisions rather than reacting out of fear.

Forcing quiet time is a catalyst for deep trust (in our Creator) and allows us to quit trying to control every outcome as if we are the end-all of wisdom. Being still builds a deep well of patience and power that frantic action dares not match. Contemplative time creates the silence needed to hear guidance, truth and inspiration.

Jesus did not necessarily give a long teaching (words) defining the concept of stillness but he famously spoke the words “Peace be still” to calm a violent storm (Mark 4:39). He also modeled physical stillness and quietness by regularly leaving crowds behind to pray in lonely, deserted places (Mark 1:35 and Mark 6:31).

I have come to the conclusion that if the business or hyperactivity is not just simply a bad habit created and modeled by parents, that not being still is the result of people not being at peace with themselves, God, and unable to be alone with their thoughts. I cannot imagine a curse much worse than this. It may be as simple as folks’ manner of running away from their conscience. They know they have hard hearts and refuse to make needed and godly change in their lives, so they stay so busy that their conscience CANNOT bug them or cause them to question themselves. How very, very sad that mankind chooses to ignore the wee voice of God that God, Himself put into us!

If you are NOT the person described above and you simply have slipped into the bad habit of thinking that you have to be busy DOING something every moment that you aren’t asleep…reevaluate and embrace time set aside every day to check yourself, to thank God for everything, to plan to do good things to make your Maker proud and happy He created you, to rest your brain and to PRAY. If we don’t pray, we don’t talk to God. If we don’t talk to God, we are saying that we either don’t believe in Him or that He is a “no-counter.” 

We just need to slow down, use our brains to take care of us and heal ourselves of the disease of filling every hour with meaningless “boredom busters.” No one can convince me that Satan wasn’t the inventor of boredom.