Some days, I feel like I can take over the world.

Other days, I can’t seem to do the bare minimum to survive as an adult let alone a mama of three.

The struggle is real.

Life requires us to play so many different roles with so many expectations. When we fail to meet those expectations it can be defeating.

For me, that’s a big part of stress and anxiety. Having a full plate of expectations and people depending on me leads me to feel incredibly overwhelmed and not enough.

When doubts and fears of failure start to set in, it’s so important to have a tactical plan to overcome them.

We were not created to live in defeat.

Being a mama requires giving and giving and giving until you feel utterly depleted. It took me a very long time to learn that self-neglect isn’t good for anyone. Taking care of yourself IS taking care of your kids.

In every single airplane, before takeoff, a flight attendant will come over the speaker and give a safety speech.

….and in every single speech, they tell you to secure YOUR oxygen mask BEFORE securing someone else’s.

Same with life. You cannot fill from an empty glass. Period.

You have to take time to take care of yourself…….body and soul so you can take care of others. Otherwise, you will end up depleted and resentful. Trust me, I’ve done it.

…and nobody wins.

Take a breath, and commit to spending the next week filling all the cups in your life so you can pour into those around you more freely.

During the seasons of hustle, I always end up hitting a wall. Where I have nothing left to give.

So, I get back to the basics and remind myself what my priorities are.

• God
• Husband
• Littles
• Friends/Family
• Work

Then, I start at the top of my priorities and work my way down.

How To Fill Your Soul And Renew Your Mind

Claim Who You Are In Christ

For me, filling my soul and renewing my mind is remembering that I’m a child of the king. When I find myself living in defeat, I can always draw a line back to not finding my true identity in Christ. We were created in HIS image. Remembering who you are in Christ is crucial to renewing your mind and filling your soul.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Psalms 139:14a

It is in our nature to wander from God and I believe it will always be a struggle until we’ve finished our race. If you are not intentionally seeking Him and persueing a relationship with him, you will always have an empty cup. A longing for something more than anything the world could possibly offer.

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

― C.S. Lewis

When I take a step back and remember who I am in Christ, the stresses of this crazy life seem to disappear.

Pray

There is power in prayer and it fills your soul.

Make a daily practice of asking and praising God through prayer. My goal is to start every morning asking for patience, strength, and wisdom. I’ve learned that doing so first thing in the morning breathes power over your day.

We are overcomers IN CHIRST. Not ourselves. And we have not because we ask not. James 4:2

I’ve also made it a practice to pray throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can talk to God anywhere. But asking and claiming is promises will renew your soul.

Music

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Create a play-list of your very favorite worship songs, step away from the chaos and play them.

I will occasionally tell my husband that I need a quick break and I will sneak into my bedroom, and put on one of my favorite songs.

So many Psalms and Proverbs talk about singing praises to the Lord. And it truly is soul filling.

Claim God’s Promises

God’s promises are so very encouraging.

Make a list of God’s promises and dwell on them, memorize them, and write them down where you can see them.

Search for specific problems in the area you are struggling, find those verses and claim them.

Go For A Walk Or Hike

Nature points back to a creator and gives you a larger perspective on life.

The bible talks about all of creation singing his praises.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 96:11-12

So powerful. I can’t help but feel God’s presence in nature.

Unplug

Technology noise can be damaging!! Taking a break from social media gives you a chance to see what’s happening around you in the REAL WORLD.

Pick a day to shut down technology and enjoy life. The world will keep turning if you’re not caught up on the latest news and what your friends are up to on social.

It also gives you time to read a good book or have a great conversatoin with someone you love.

Yoga

Doing a quick yoga routine is a great way to get your blood moving and feel alive.

You can find endless free resources on pinterest or youtube.

Find a yoga routine that feels right for your body and commit to it for a week.

Another thing I love about yoga is that it’s not a competition. You can do the same yoga routine for years and still continue to improve.

Journaling Or Writing Things Down

Sometimes just writing your thoughts and feelings on paper makes them look so much smaller than they felt in your head.

Many times I’ve felt so incredibly overwhelmed and when I sat down to write everything on my mind down, there wasn’t even as much going on as I thought.

Often times doing a brain dump will enable you to make a simple action plan.

I also love writing down prayers. It helps to not be repetitive in our prayers but be intentional.

Guard Your Thoughts

This is huge. You have to be diligent in guarding your thought life. Especially as mamas. If you are not diligently guarding your thoughts, they will consume you.

The bible talks about casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.

I struggle daily with my thought life and If I am not constantly evaluating and keeping those thoughts in check, they grow into monsters.

• Your thoughts are where doubts of God’s love are born.
• Your thoughts are where the comparison trap is born.
• Your thoughts are where crazy ideas about bad things happening begin.

Make a practice of dismissing the lies that creep into your mind and replacing them with truth.

Lastly, don’t over complicate the process. Filling your soul is supposed to feel right. Set aside fifteen minutes each day to really focus on pouring into that cup so you are able to pour more abundantly to others.

Xoxox
Colleen

If you found this article helpful, I invite you to leave a comment and let me know what fills your soul.