Is anyone else spending a little more time on the internet these days? Hand raised! I’ve been spending a lot of time on social media in particular. Can we talk about that? Is it conflicting for anyone else? I’m certain I’m wasting too much time scrolling but I’m also not convinced it’s simply a guilty pleasure. The access to information feels important, informative and is often inspiring! Plus, I feel legitimate gratitude for my internet friends!
One of those friends is Rachel Hollis. I love her because she shows up for it EVERY day and I aspire to do the same! Last week Amanda and I announced that we signed up for her #Next90Challenge. Only good things can come of this challenge. Consider joining us (by clicking that link) and start showing up for your life as the best version of yourself – EVERY day!
Another one of my best (internet) friends is Jen Hatmaker. She is as real as a girl can get and brings me tremendous joy. She had me cracking up when she posted this video of herself in her empty bathtub with a glass of wine on an overturned garbage can. She talks about how her day started so positive and by 4:30 pm she had absolutely had it. We are (internet) friends because everything she says feels like she’s pulling it directly from MY brain and who wouldn’t want a friend who feels you in that way? Jen has a new book coming out this month and if you pre-order it, you can register for her webcast coming up on April 30th. I’m especially excited about the webcast because Brene Brown will be joining her!
Do you guys know Brene? She’s another (internet) friend of mine. I got hooked on her when I read her book Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. She’s a force and she’s wicked smart! She recently published this podcast: Brene on Anxiety, Calm + Over/Under-Functioning. In it, she defines calm as perspective, mindfulness and the ability to manage emotional reactivity. She goes on to say that calm people can bring perspective to complicated situations. Wow, yeah, I get it! On my good days, I think I’m doing that well for my kids and my family but when the grief and anxiety sneak in I tend to lose perspective and unravel a bit. And that’s okay . . . that’s a form of grace we’re getting more and more acquainted with these days!
I’ve also been following The ONE Thing lately. It’s a movement, not a human, but it’s full of good advice, nonetheless. The website is based on the book, The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. As I was wandering around the site I came across this quote from their Vice President, Geoff Woods, “We can take a step back from working in a reactive, hyperactive way and take some time to think.” That’s a truth I needed to hear. Now that we’re working with mainly unknowns, I have to temper my nature to try to solve all of this. I’ve come to realize that reacting is different from responding and reacting can be an unhealthy act that only contributes to my loss of perspective. Psychology Today explains the difference between reacting and responding in this article. The article starts with this quote from American rapper, Fred Durst: “When I look back on my knee-jerk reactions now, I realize I should have just taken a breath.” That’s grace Fred Durst!
His quote reminded me of a notification that my Calm app recently sent me: Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes . . . including you. Yes! Thank you Calm app – I count you among my internet friends because you always know what I need!
Do you use a meditation app? I just started. There are eons worth of research behind it so why I waited for a pandemic to start this practice is beyond me. Needless to say, it’s helping! Days before this quote blessed my inbox, another like it ignited my inner calm: The quieter you become, the more you hear. Ahhhhhhhhh, this! Thanks again Calm app and thank you silence!
I practice silence in the early morning. Despite the quarantine, I’m still getting up at 5 am because my (internet) friends Rachel Hollis and Hal Elrod taught me the value in it. While part of me wonders why, the other part – thankfully the more persuasive part – knows that I NEED the early morning. I practice SAVERS from Hal’s book The Miracle Morning. Without getting into the entire practice (you can click on the link to learn more), the first ‘S’ is for Silence. My time spent in silence is when I glean enlightenment that sets the trajectory for my entire day. What a gift! I ask you, what mom doesn’t appreciate silence? I bet some of you mamas didn’t know it was an option!
In addition to the early wake-up, I’m doing my best to stick to my daily habits and routines. On a recent episode of The Start Today Morning Show, another (internet) friend of mine, Dave Hollis offered this advice: give yourself grace by staying connected to your routine. For me this is therapeutic. I want everyone to experience the peace my routine brings me . . . meaning I want everyone’s routine to bring them that same peace. In Dave’s talk he went on to say that “your routine is the constant that will help you overcome overwhelm.” Yes! For me, this is my truth! But, from all that I’m reading, it’s not everyone’s truth. Read Grace x Quarantine to hear more on that topic!
Last but not least on my list of virtual besties is Sean Croxton. I listen to The Quote of the Day show with Sean Croxton EVERY weekday. It’s inspiring, uplifting, motivating and thought-provoking. Sean also has a book club and members get to interact with him LIVE on Zoom every Wednesday night – which makes me feel he’s like more than just an imaginary internet friend. This month we’re reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann which I highly recommend.
So those are some of my virtual besties along with the blessings they bestow on me and the reasons I scroll on and stay plugged in. Who are yours and how are they showing up for you?
Good Grief, Choose Joy