Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

The Productivity of Being Still. (#47)

Leave a comment

This month’s focus is a message that I desperately need myself. In a culture which constantly emphasizes productivity, the notion of slowing down or taking time to rest can seem counterintuitive.

We are often led to believe that success is measured by the hours worked, the tasks completed, and the hustle that accompanies our daily whirlwind. However, there is growing evidence that true productivity cannot be sustained without intentional periods of stillness, downtime, and rest. And just scrolling social media or mindlessly watching TV do not provide the rest we need. While you may not be bodily active during those tasks, your mind and emotions are not at rest.

Rest is essential for cognitive function, yet every waking moment we are bombarded with stimuli – the ping of notifications, the overwhelming stream of information from news outlets or social media, and the constant advertisements. This overstimulation leads to burnout, decision fatigue, and diminished creativity. The brain, much like any other part of the body, requires time to recover and reset.

We all need intentional pauses which allow our bodies, souls and spirits to be still. These moments of quiet are not only necessary for physical and mental well-being but are also essential for sustained creative and cognitive output. In fact, rest has the power to enhance productivity in ways that constant activity cannot.

During periods of rest, the brain processes and consolidates information, which leads to better memory retention and more effective problem-solving. Neuroscientific studies show that during sleep, the brain strengthens neural connections and clears out waste products that accumulate during waking hours. By ensuring adequate downtime, we allow our minds to work in the background, improving clarity and focus when we return to our tasks.

A great piece of advice is found in Psalm 46:10. Most English translations say, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The Christian Standard Bible translation says, “Stop fighting, and know that I am God.” Yet another translation, the New American Standard Bible, says, “Stop striving and know that I am God.” When we stop striving and fighting the whirlwind and instead get still and focus on the fact that God is firmly on His throne, our bodies, souls and spirits thrive!

Taking intentional breaks, spending time in prayer or reading Scripture, or engaging in quiet activities such as journaling or walking in nature can foster a mental and spiritual reset. When we pause and disconnect from the noise around us, we are able to meaningfully reconnect with God and ourselves. Ironically, it is in these moments of stillness that our most innovative ideas can surface.

By embracing the importance of downtime and rest, we give ourselves the chance to reconnect with God and ourselves, recharge, reflect, and ultimately become more productive, creative, and resilient. It’s amazing how a little intentional rest can be so powerfully productive!

Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

Opportunity Cost (#46)

Leave a comment

Last month we discussed the difference between striving and thriving. I asked you to consider that rock, that thing which demands an inordinate amount of your effort and attention that could otherwise be intentionally devoted to more important and soul-satisfying activities. This month we will take that thought a bit further and look at the costs of pursuing that rock.

While we all have more or less of certain resources – like money, friends, health, energy, intelligence or creativity – we all have the same amount of time in a day. How we spend that time makes all of the difference in the quality and satisfaction we have in life.

When we spend our resources haphazardly or in ways that do not support our highest goals, we miss the opportunity to spend those resources in more effective ways. In business, this is called an opportunity cost. If we spend our time and other resources in ways that do not lead to progress in goals or our definition of success (see blog post Enough Success (#22)), then those spent resources are wasted. This is particularly tragic when our resources are spent on someone else’s goals or definition of success.

The point is that you will expend time and effort regardless of the outcome, the goal is to have the time and effort pointing in the direction of that which is truly most important to you…not to other people. Your goals should not be dictated by The Joneses, and certainly not influenced by social media posers. See the blog post What I Love About Tiny Houses (#29) for a good illustration of this idea.

How tragic it is at the end of a life spent climbing the ladder of success only to realize too late it was leaning against the wrong wall. Take some time this month to intentionally examine where your ladder is leaning. What is the opportunity cost of your current lifestyle? Is the long-term cost of pursuing that rock worth the investment? I hope the answer is an enthusiastic “yes!” If not, maybe it’s time to look for another opportunity.

Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

That Rock. (#45)

Leave a comment

What does it mean to thrive rather than strive? Merriam Webster defines thrive1 as “to grow vigorously” (i.e. to flourish) and “to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances” and strive2 as “to devote serious effort or energy” and “to struggle in opposition”. One word is life-giving, one word is soul draining. One word draws you higher toward your calling, one word reminds us that the struggle is real.

One of the most famous quotes from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Life moves fast. One day you’re getting off the school bus and the next minute you’re wondering what the heck happened to your neck! Sometimes we need to hit the proverbial pause button and take some time to examine our assumptions and paradigms.

Does your definition of success really match the track you’re on? Are you striving simply to meet the expectations of others, or are you thriving in your “so that” purpose? Of course we have obligations…the mortgage won’t pay itself…but there is also a lot more space between our necessary obligations and the exhausting expectations we assume are requirements.

I know that was true for me. (You can learn a bit about my Enough Life journey in blog post #34, “So That”.)

This month, spend some time examining your definition of success. Perhaps blog post #22, “Enough Success?” can help. What would your life, calendar, and wallet look like if you traded striving for thriving? Would there be one less meeting a week and one more walk in the park? Would there be one less, unnecessary drive through coffee drink and one more good book getting read?

Thriving takes intentionality, growth won’t just happen on its own. Whatever your “enough” point is you will find joy, peace, and satisfaction. Give some thought today to how you can flourish in 2025 rather than devoting all of your energy to pushing that rock uphill…whatever that rock is for you.

————

1“Thrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrive. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

2“Strive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strive. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Let's Thrive Not Strive in 2025!

Happy New Year! (Let’s Thrive Not Strive in 2025) (#44)

Leave a comment

Are you tired? I know I get tired…of striving and straining. Tired of doing constant battle with my formidable to do list while the days seem to silently slip by. Even with the best of intentions to maintain balance, I can still find myself on the hamster wheel of life with work, family, friends, and ministry. It can be hard to manage it all without feeling depleted. I once heard the saying, “sleep doesn’t help when it’s your soul that’s tired.” I can relate.

If you’re feeling like that too, let’s make a pact for the new year. Let’s try to have better focus, clearer priorities, and more soul-satisfying rest. Let’s get more of what we really want out of life and let more of the other stuff go. Let’s find out what truly matters and then do more of that!

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Let 2025 be the year we trust Him in this. He will not fail you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6).

I will share more Scripture, blog posts, and inspiration throughout the year. But here is a bit of a taste (a flashback of sorts) to whet your appetite and get you thinking:

  • Check out blog post #40, Enough Expectations and consider how we can let go of some of the expectations others have placed upon us or that which we have placed upon others.

We aren’t intended to strive and strain just to keep our heads above water, but rather to float and thrive on top! It is possible! 

Join me this year as we discover what’s truly important: to gain what is life-giving and shed that which drains it. Let this be the year you finally find satisfaction, for good!