distracted Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Sharla Fritz
October 4, 2016

Feeling Overwhelmed? Remember Busy Doesn’t Equal Important

remember

What is the most common answer you hear when you ask, “How are you?”

Chances are it is, “Busy!”

And usually whoever you ask will follow up that one-word answer with a long recitation of all the work projects, Little League games, dance recitals, church activities, and volunteer responsibilities that fill up her week.

I know–because I’ve been there. Why did I fill up my schedule to overflowing?

Because somehow I believed this equation:

More activity + more tasks + more hustle and hurry = more importance.

But really that equation is only a lie. This is the true equation:

More activity + more tasks + more hustle and hurry = one overwhelmed woman.

And another equation that was also true in my life was:

Overwhelmed woman = anxiety + stress – peace – patience.

Packing more activity and tasks into my life often meant that I was checking off a lot of items from my to-do list, but I wasn’t being the wife I wanted to be. I wasn’t acting like the friend I wanted to be. My busyness made me feel more significant. But I probably made those closest to me feel less important.

Lately, I’ve been meditating on this verse from the Gospel of John:

I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. (John 17:4)

Jesus said that.

And I notice two things in His statement: 

First, Jesus says, “I have brought You glory.” He wasn’t trying to make Himself look important. He was working to give His Father praise and honor.

Second, He doesn’t brag about all He was doing. Yes, Jesus accomplished a lot while He was on earth, but He didn’t take on any extra jobs. He simply did the work the Father gave Him.

It makes me realize that when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I need to ask myself: 

  • Why am I doing this? Is it to bring glory to God? Or is to make me feel important?
  • Who is telling me I should do this? Is God instructing me that this is part of the work He wants me to do? Or is it simply my own ego that is pushing me toward this activity?

We all need to remind ourselves that we are not important because of what we do. We are important because of who we are–daughters of the King!

We are not important because of what we do--but because of who we are--daughters of the King! Click To Tweet

Next step: Make a list of activities that are making you feel overwhelmed. For each one, ask the two questions: Why I am I doing this? Who is telling me to do this?

If you would like to learn more about avoiding distractions and living a focused life, check out my new book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits for a Frenzied World on Amazon.

The ebook is only $3.99!

Inside you will find 16 Faith-Focus Habits that will help you:

  • find focus by connecting to God 
  • truly pay attention to what is essential
  • prioritize your day
  • find focus in your work
  • make important choices
  • defeat the distractions of technology
  • find rest in our hectic world
Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With:
September 27, 2016

3 Scriptures for Fellow Adrenaline Junkies

ask-for-the-old-godly-way-and-walk-in-it-travel-its-path-and-you-will-find-rest-for-your-souls

Are you an adrenaline junkie?

Take this short quiz to find out. True or false:

  • you often go without sleep to accomplish tasks
  • when you stop the whirlwind of activity you feel restless
  • you only feel “up” when you’re active and busy
  • when you start to feel depressed, you turn to activity to feel better

If you answered true to any of those statements, you might be an adrenaline junkie. The more times you said “true,” the greater the likelihood you are “hooked” on the high that activity brings.

Although I hate to admit it, there have been times that I’ve been an adrenaline junkie. This important hormone is designed to increase our strength and performance during emergencies. But it also kicks in when we’re hurrying to an appointment or making a speech or meeting a work deadline. And it’s easy to get hooked on that extra sharpness and pumped up feeling that adrenaline gives.

But our bodies aren’t designed to run on adrenaline long term. If we keep pushing ourselves to do more and continue to draw on adrenaline to get it done our bodies begin to wear out. We have trouble sleeping, our immune system is compromised, and our cardiovascular system works overtime. It doesn’t take long before we feel stressed and overwhelmed.

In his book Adrenaline and Stress, Dr. Archibald Hart writes,

Many of us live our whole lives in what is essentially a constant state of emergency and hurry. We become dependent on the overproduction of adrenaline, not simply for our accomplishments, but just to survive each day.”

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be that you’ve pushed yourself too far. You’ve hurried too much. You’ve depended on the energy of adrenaline too long.

So what can you do?

Begin by asking yourself “Why? Why are you pushing yourself? Why are you hooked on activity?”

When I dug down deep to find my answer to that question, I discovered a surprising answer:

I found my worth in accomplishment.

And the more I accomplished, the better I felt about myself. So I pushed myself a little harder. I got a little more done.

Until God called me on it.

He reminded me that activity isn’t necessarily the key to strength and success:

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

He reassured me that my worth is not based on my accomplishments–only on His love:

You are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you. (Isaiah 43:4)

He pointed out the importance of rest:

This is what theLord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
    Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself if you’re addicted to activity and adrenaline. If the answer is yes, ask yourself why. Like me, are you basing your worth on your busyness, your performance, your accomplishments?

Remember that God loves you for who you are–His precious child–and not for what you do.

Remember that God loves you for who you are--His precious child--and not for what you do. Click To Tweet

Next step: If you are finding yourself hooked on activity and adrenaline, choose one of the Scriptures above. Write it on a sticky note and put it where you will see it often this week.

If you would like to learn more about avoiding distractions and living a focused life, check out my new book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits for a Frenzied World on Amazon.

The ebook is only $3.99!

Inside you will find 16 Faith-Focus Habits that will help you:

  • find focus by connecting to God 
  • truly pay attention to what is essential
  • prioritize your day
  • find focus in your work
  • make important choices
  • defeat the distractions of technology
  • find rest in our hectic world
Filed Under: Bible Study, Spiritual Growth Tagged With:
September 20, 2016

Three Steps to Come Out From Under the Pile of Shoulds

The pile of the things I “should” do is daunting. The “shoulds” overwhelm me.

Today I should finish writing a chapter for my new book, finish a project for an organization I’m a part of, clean my disaster of a basement, harvest beans in my garden, and finish this blog post.

In addition, experts tell me that every day I should exercise for thirty minutes, eat at least five fruits and vegetables, avoid saturated fat, consume 25 grams of fiber. To be prepared for emergencies I should have an emergency kit in my basement, store gallons of water, and have a crank radio. In order to get ahead,I really should make thousands of connections on social media, pay attention to my stock portfolio, hire style experts, improve my public speaking…

It’s overwhelming just to list all the things I should do.

The other day I was reading the story in the Bible where Jesus comes to Martha’s house for dinner. I know. You’ve heard this story before. We are all supposed to be more like Mary and less like Martha. Yada. Yada.

But read the story again and notice the highlighted word.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10:38-42 NIV 1984)

When I noticed that little word, I had a lightbulb moment: Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

Martha felt she should make a big dinner for Jesus. She thought she should be in the kitchen.

But who told her she should be doing these things?

It wasn’t Jesus.

Jesus obviously didn’t order Martha to prepare a meal–He commends the sister who is not in the kitchen. Did someone else tell her she had to take responsibility for the meal? Martha probably had servants to whom she could have delegated the work.

Yet she felt she should prepare the meal.

Often when I’m feeling overwhelmed it’s because of the many “shoulds” in my life. I should keep my home in perfect order. I should have an impressive job. I should be helping more people. I start to feel buried under the piles of things I should be doing.

Who told me I should do all those things? Perhaps God commanded some of the things I need to do. But it just might be that I am the one who placed too many shoulds on my plate. I said yes to too many responsibilities. I took on too many tasks.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I have to take a good look at the nitwit who said “yes” too often. I have to accept the responsibility for being overcommitted.

When you’re overwhelmed and overcommitted try doing these three things to get out from under that pile of “shoulds”:

  1. Ask yourself, “Who is telling me I should do this?’ God didn’t tell Martha she had to make a meal for Him. He wanted her to spend some time with Him instead. Too many times I am doing what I think I need to do or what some expert thinks I need to do and neglecting what God wants me to do.
  2. Sit at Jesus feet. This is what Jesus desired for Martha. It’s what He desires for us. Take time to listen to Him. Don’t jump into tasks that were not meant for you.
  3. Ask Jesus, “What do you want me to do?” Ignore the nagging voice in your head. Ignore the experts. Find out what God wants you to do.

Come out from under the pile of “shoulds.”

Next step: Make a list of all the things that you feel you should do today. For each item, ask yourself, “Who is telling me I should do this?” Then prayerfully take them to Christ and ask Him, “What do You want me to do?” In this process, you may discover that some things need to be removed from your list.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , , ,
February 22, 2016

How a NOT-To-Do List Can Help You Succeed

packingtime2

Today I’m posting over at my friend Melanie’s site. Read this preview and click to read the rest!

Last year started out with grim news.

My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma.

It was a shock for this guy who never takes a sick day. He never had any symptoms. He didn’t feel ill.

not-to-do-listSoon all of our to-do lists were relegated to the garbage can. Instead of our usual work and social activities, our schedules were crammed with doctor visits, tests, and treatments. Our over-packed lives had to make room for more important things. I personally needed to weed out the frivolous to find time for what was necessary—being available for my husband….

Read more…

 

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,
September 3, 2013

When You Discover You’ve Taken the Wrong Path

A while back I got a little lost. I discovered I was on the wrong path.

My husband, son, and I took a mini-vacation to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. While there, we wanted to do a little hiking. The helpful man at the information center at the park told us we needed to take the East Bluff Trail in order to see the park’s most amazing sights.

We started off fine. The trailhead for the East Bluff Trial was clearly marked. We huffed and puffed our way up the steep trail and were rewarded with this spectacular view of the lake.

DSCN3085 - Copy

We then continued on what we thought was the East Bluff Trail, but the further we went, the more challenging the trail got. We were scrambling over boulders and dodging poison ivy. My son noted that the trail was not looking very “trail-y” anymore. But we kept following any little worn spot in the dirt we could find between the rocks.

Finally, after a particularly steep climb up some serious rocks, my husband announced, “Here’s the trail!”

I laughed when I caught up to him because… the real trail was black-topped! How could we have missed an asphalt trail in the woods?

Sometimes I have discovered that I have taken a wrong turn in life. Instead of keeping on my true life’s path, I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by fear, by ambition, or by other people’s opinions. Or I’ve taken a wrong turn simply because I haven’t been paying close enough attention to God’s guidance.

Eventually, I realize that the trail I’m on isn’t very “trail-y” anymore. I have a vague sense that I’m not on the right path. Clues that I’ve taken a wrong turn are feeling distant from God or a low-level anxiety all the time.

What can we do when we sense that we have taken a wrong turn in life? Psalm 25 has some answers.

  • Examine what may have caused you to miss the right path (lack of trust in God, for instance):

O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You.  (verse 2 Amplified)

  • Ask for forgiveness:

For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins. (verse 11 NLT)

  • Come to God with an attitude of humility, acknowledging He knows best:

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (verse 9 ESV)

  • Ask God to show you His ways:

Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. (verse 4 NASB)

Thankfully, God promises to guide us in the way that is chosen specifically for us when we choose to respect Him.

Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose. (verse 12 AMP)

Next step: A prayer for today, “Lord, sometimes I think I’m on the right path and then discover I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. Forgive my lack of trust in Your ways. Help me get back on the right trail.”

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
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