You’ve Only Got One Job in Any Given Moment
Let me ask you a question:
After your eyes pop open in the morning, how long does it take you to get stressed out?
Before your feet even hit the floor, have you started worrying about the day ahead?
The things you have to do before leaving for work?
All the running around you need to do with the kids?
Heck, some of you might even spend a chunk of the night lying awake thinking about any of the stuff above.
I’m guessing that, for the majority of us, it doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to feel stress after we wake up.
Ten minutes…from when we go from snoozing away to being consumed by the day and its demands.
And that stressful state often follows us around all day long, until we hit the sack and start again the next morning.
But you know what? In any given moment, we only have one job.
No matter how many tasks are on your to-do list, no matter how many kids are hanging off of you, no matter how worried you are about x, y, or z — you’ve only got one job.
It’s to stay aligned.
Alignment is that feeling of peace and contentment you get when you believe things are going to be okay. It’s feeling “in flow” with your life — going with things instead of resisting against them.
Maybe you feel that sense of peace after praying, taking a walk in the woods, listening to music you love, reading a great book, or cooking up a delicious meal. Maybe it’s connecting with a friend or working on a meaningful project.
Whatever it is, your only job in any given moment is to reconnect to that feeling of peace and sink into it — to be aligned.
Your job is not to have a loop of worry running through your mind at all times.
Your job is not to stress about not knowing what your life’s purpose is.
Your job is not to juggle ten times more than you can actually handle so you can feel like you’re doing enough, being enough, and are worthy enough.
Your only job is to stay aligned.
Not so that you can avoid your problems and stick your head in the sand…
…but because being in alignment is the only place where the answers to your problems can be found.
“But Katie, (I hear you saying) I’m so busy. I don’t have time to take a walk in the woods every time I’m stressed out. I’d do nothing but walk in the woods.”
Then take a deep breath, close your eyes, and picture yourself walking in the woods along your favorite trail. Do it for one minute, and I bet you’ll feel way more peaceful and centered than when you started.
You might need to do this several times a day (or several times an hour!) at first. That’s okay. You’re training yourself to become more aware of when stress is ruling your mind—and then interrupt it and reconnect to a feeling of peace.
Be patient with yourself and keep at it until feeling aligned becomes your new normal, not stress.
It’s the most important thing on your to-do list on any given day, and you’ll be so much more creative, productive, kind, and effective because of it.
Lots of love,
P.S. Comment below and tell me what’s your favorite thing to do to feel aligned and reconnect to peace. I’d love to know!
Hi, I’m Katie!
MORE FROM THE BLOG
Hey Katie!
Blasting music helps me get out of my funk. Whether it’s a song of worship or some rap! If I’m out running errands a meal by myself or stop in a fun store will help me feel great! Thank you for your words of encouragement. ❤️
Thank you Nicole! Yes, I always have Oprah and some good music in my ear to help me! Keep rockin’!
Watching the sunrise in the quiet with coffee in my favorite chair. I start this way as often as possible.
I can’t think of a better way to start the day! Taking time for yourself (especially in the morning) is EVERYTHING!
Going for a walk by the river with my dog Riggs or a bike ride with my boys! Listening to nature and calming the mind
Nature, a bike ride, water and a dog- if that doesn’t calm your mind, I don’t know what else will! This is EVERYTHING Tina! Never get “too busy” for these moments.
walk with my puppy 🙂
That’s why DOG and GOD are the same words letters just jumbled 😉
This is really interesting. I never thought about alignment as a stress management tool and it makes total sense. I was just having this conversation this morning about juggling everything and that it’s overwhelming. Changing your mindset to think more about alignment certainly gives you pause. Thanks for sharing
Yes Melissa! We are all constantly trying to balance so much in life that if you just focus on YOU and being aligned, everything always seems to fall into place.
When I feel out of alignment in a major way I go to the beach. Just listening to the ocean and spending some time being still helps get me back to myself and more focused.
The key is that you are AWARE of when you feel out of alignment and I love your strategy. The ocean brings me RIGHT back too. Love this!
Meditation is absolutely the catalyst for centering and alignment for me.
It filters out the nonsense and grounds me in what’s REAL! I am living more from my center and less from a place of worry or anxiety because of my meditation practice.
Without it I live in my emotions. I live in a place of stories and loops.
Deanna- you and I BOTH! Meditation is so key for self-awareness and self-awareness is EVERYTHING. It’s amazing how you much chatter we have going on in our head and even more amazing when you can take contror of that voice!
I can close my eyes and literally go back to summers in my childhood, swimming in the river, hanging out with friends, long summer nights outside, my grandma’s fresh, cool, clean, sheets. All of it, and I immediately feel at peace.
I love this. Your brain has those memories stored for a reason and I think tapping into them and bringing back “those feelings” is a beautiful strategy. Thank you for sharing!