You Don’t Have To Wear A Cape To Live A Real Life

There’s no doubt, you do great things.

Your schedule is full. You manage to accomplish much in a day. There’s no doubt others rely on you… your family, your co-workers, the people you choose to do life with. You do all you can to be a blessing to others while you attempt to find time for yourself as well.

You balance life and balance your checkbook. And, during the times where there’s more month than money, you get creative. If others would follow you around throughout a typical day, they’s be exhausted.

Yes, you do great things. And, as you go about your day, you’re doing your best to live a real and authentic life. But, friend, please allow me to remind you of something today.

You don’t have to wear a cape to live a real life.

You don’t have to be a super man or a wonder woman to be real. Nor do you have to be a marvelous mother or a dynamite dad. No cape is required. As we get in our groove of living life, temptations to think the weight of the world (and all on our to-do lists) falls on our shoulders arise. We can begin to believe our lives aren’t worth much unless we’re over-the-top busy. Are we living a real life if we don’t do it all? Friend, there’s no need for you and I to feel we need to do it all.

In fact, we weren’t meant to do it all.

When we extend ourselves beyond what we’re called to do, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stressed. Burn out and discouragement follow, and it’s difficult to keep going at a pace we were never meant to keep. If we stretch ourselves too thin, by taking on too much, we can’t be effective in much.

Maybe, like me, you’ve learned this the hard way, too. Maybe you’ve been there? I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve taken on too much and I’ve tried to do more than any normal person should. For too many years I tied on my red cape and attempted to be a super woman, especially during certain times of the year. Christmastime would be one of those times, and for years I would end up sick and miserable on Christmas day or soon after. I proved to myself I am no super woman and I never should try to be.

It’s time to remove the cape.

Actually, living a real life works better without a cape.

So, what do we do? How can we accomplish what we need to without doing it all? Some suggestions:

—Ask for help. Involve others in your to-do list. You don’t have to do it all.

—Let it go. What on your list doesn’t really need to be on there? Remove what you can and let it go.

—Find time savers. Cook meals ahead on the weekends. Make your lunch and set out your clothes the night before. Do paperwork in the carpool line. Even shaving off a few minutes makes a big difference.

—Don’t skimp on sleep. We’re less effective when we’re weary and tired. Make sure you get enough rest.

—Stay grounded. Don’t lose sight of what’s important. Re-evaluate your priorities when necessary.

—Live real right where you are. Do what you’re called to do. Allow someone else to do what you’re not.

–Pray. God will help guide you.

What else can we add? I’d love to read your suggestions below.

Let’s remove the cape today and throw it in the garbage. Friend, we don’t need it anymore. Living a real life without one is much more freeing.

Bless you,

Julie

 

 

Here we are on Day 15 of 31 Days of Living A Real Life. We’re half-way! Thanks for journeying with me. Prior posts in this series can be found here.