It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Greetings to you!
Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.
Russ...
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love." Brené Brown
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
It's February and this is the last quote focused on SELF-CARE. You can read this month's posts HERE.
This quote from Brené Brown just hit me this week.
It might be because of all the chaos going on in the world around us.
It might be because of peoples brokenness and the ongoing struggle to just survive some tough circumstances.
Whatever it is, Browns quote here just hit me.
Often, I do the opposite. I'm my biggest critic, and I often whine, beat myself up, push myself and ooze negativity all around me when I fail, when I don't accomplish a goal, when I struggle, when I don't perform, when I fail again. I just rip into myself.
Fortunately, in full disclosure, I'm also able to turn that around and recover. I don't stay there long, and once I recognize what's going on, I'm able to adjust and climb out of the abyss.
I know that for many, you get stuck and have a really hard time getting out.
As we close a month of just talking about different aspects of self-care, I want to encourage you to do what Brené Brown prompts us to do:
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love."
Change your tone, give yourself grace, and don't be your constant and loudest critic!
DEEPER STILL:
John 13:34-35 reminds us of this:
"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other." (MSG)
I think that our ability to love others comes from our ability to love ourselves. You can't separate these completely.
Sometimes in the midst of a stressful day or week, I look for "comfort food". Often it's a good Carne Asada Taco, some Rainbow Sherbet or when things are really crazy, a good California Rueben Sandwich. For some reason, when I consume these things, I get an extra dose of "comfort". It's a treat, sometimes a reward or it just makes me feel better (for a minute!)
I think we need to do the same thing in the way we love ourselves.
When I need to find comfort for my soul, when I need to re-center my life or when I need to remind myself who I am, there are some things that quickly bring things back into perspective:
Walking at the beach, hand in hand with Gina
Feeling the sun on my body
Taking a deep breath, and pausing to think about it
Being outside in nature
Sitting with a blank page of my journal in front of me, just waiting to write down what's on my heart
Being with my family
Laughing and finding joy in life
Serving someone else
Encouraging someone with a word or a small gesture
Wow, I could keep going, but when I experience these things I remember that I'm loved, Jesus tells me this and reminds me often. I'm also reminded that even though I'm not perfect, I'm here for a purpose and I need to take care of myself, love myself, so I can then love and serve others.
Today, find comfort in the fact that you are loved. Take it easy on yourself. God is still at work in you and through you!
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
We had a great time with "old friends" visiting with a long walk at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Great to be outside in the sunshine! (Sorry to those who are experiencing true winter!)
I enjoyed listening to Coldplay's latest album Moon Music on Apple. Somehow I missed this, but caught up this morning!
This credit card has worked great for us in building up points to use at Marriott Hotel properties. Check it out HERE.
You've heard me talk about our friends at Harbor Ministries.They'll be presenting this week at The Barnabas Group, but we're then helping to host a Tom Petty Tribute Concert on April 7th in San Juan Capistrano. Join us for an evening of great music, and an invitation to learn more about Harbor!
I read fiction to turn my brain off sometimes. I recently started this series, The Terminal List, which is a long series of books from Jack Carr around the fictional character of James Reece. Pretty intense, but good spy action books!