One of my goals in 2024 is to be more like my friend, Cindy Georg. Not to copy her or be “just like her.” I’m a big fan of being wholeheartedly oneself. But I’m also about learning from the example of others in an effort to grow.

Cindy is a person who is in God’s Word more than anyone I know. She has an insatiable thirst for the Bible. Another thing I love about her is, she is always calm. I mean ALWAYS…and not just outside, but on the inside. Not much ruffles her. She’s even-keeled no matter what is happening. She may be the most stable leader I know.

I manage my outer calm pretty well. Only people in my household have seen me “lose it” as losing it goes. Generally, I am pretty well-collected when dealing with others. I have trained myself to stay calm and lead on and not let ’em see me sweat when it comes to leadership. But as calm as I am on the outside, a lot of times my insides are something reminiscent of an Instapot. I’m boiling under the surface.

Confession: I am tired of this.

I am tired of the boiling feeling just under the surface when things proverbially get under my skin.

I am tired of my neck and shoulders aching from the stress.

I am tired of the constant adrenaline rushes and crashes, that come from crisis and problem solving.

I am tired of the lack of inner calm, and I am ready to respond like Cindy who stares down crisis with ease inwardly and outwardly.

Last night I found myself praying myself to sleep and begging God to give me whatever it is that Cindy has in this regard. Whatever it is in my spiritual life that is missing…I want it. I read my Bible, I pray, I worship, I surrender.

Calm my beating heart, Lord.

Please. Please, do it. Help my inside match my outside.

I know I need to lean into God and His truth as never before.

I’ve been mulling it over and so far I’ve decided I’m also going to practice a few other things more this year:

Take more 15-minute breaks during the day

I rarely do this and I need to. I barrel ahead most times into my work and I don’t take those short breaks until I feel rough around the edges. I want to take soaking worship, or short walk breaks and the like with more regularity.

Use my Shatki mat

I heard about this little acupressure mat and requested one for Christmas last year and received it. Honestly,  I haven’t used it as much as I intended to, I forget to do it as the days get so busy. But, I need to! I need to train myself to lie down on it for a few minutes when I’m feeling the pressures of life. If you haven’t heard of a Shatki mat, here’s where you can find out about it. You might think it’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard, laying on oodles of little spikes to relax and ease pain and stress, but it works. Some people report experiencing greater sleep than they ever have when using it.

Practice the pause

For a “define reality” person such as me, it’s hard sometimes to do this. I want it solved, and I want it solved NOW. I’ve discovered that I sometimes respond to crises too quickly. Instead of breathing and taking a moment to assess what’s happening, I immediately go into triage almost without breathing (I catch myself holding my breath at times) and I start hammering away at solutions in a frenzy. I’ve got to slow down a bit in this regard.

What do you do?

If you seem to have a handle on calm, I’d love to know your secrets. Share with me, please. I’m ready to grow.