Hi! I am back from traveling around the world. Manila, Philippines, to Bangkok, Thailand, to Kho Phi Phi, Thailand, to Bangkok, to Manila, and finally back to the US.
It was one of my favorite trips. My husband and I got to minister at the Destiny Manila Church and catch up with our great friends in the Philippines. We then spent our anniversary scuba diving and enjoying the slow pace of island life.
Americans really stand out in places like these… for many reasons 😅. Despite being among Europeans and Australians, who look similar, you can tell the Americans apart because we have zero patience or tolerance for SLOW.
On our first day on the small island, we had to shift gears, back way off, and decide it’s ok that there is no rule for which side of the street to walk on; 🫠 and getting stuck behind slow islanders was part of the experience.
I completed my 14th dive, scuba diving in 86° crystal blue water packed full of sea life. It was an experience of a lifetime.
While diving, the goal is to slow your breathing to a calm and relaxed state and move your body as little as possible. I watch my husband float by, looking like an old sea turtle just cruising through the water, not moving a muscle. Not that HE looks old… you know what I mean.
Meanwhile, I’m burning through my air as fast as possible, breathing as hard as I can, fidgeting and kicking around like a new baby turtle trying to survive its first days of life in the big deep blue! 🙄
One thing you learn as a diver is that being in a relaxed state is required. You CANNOT PANIC.
The danger of being unable to calm down and not panic while diving is that…well, panic can kill you.
“Panic can kill in many ways. Rapid, shallow breathing can cause hypoxia and a buildup of carbon dioxide. The result: The diver acts irrationally, breathing faster, expelling the regulator, or bolting to the surface. These panic responses can make you pass out, or even have a heart attack if you have a weak heart. And panicking impedes your ability to solve problems and get to safety when your equipment malfunctions or you’re tangled in a line.” – Subadiving.com
Ha… 😅 Good to know. 😭 I had to intentionally renew my mind and force myself to calm down, or I would be putting myself in grave danger.
Which brings me to my point.
It’s not just diving; those who live in a constant state of panic, also known as “panic mode,” are also in danger. Our mental state, physical health, relationships, and ability to hear from the Lord are all at risk if we do not renew our minds and break this bad habit.
We are accustomed to living at a fast pace. Even when our bodies are not moving fast, our minds are racing, our to-do lists are piling up, we rarely have time to enjoy our loved ones or even a nice meal, and we surely don’t have time to care for our bodies. We are seldom ever ALL THERE, in the moment.
I started thinking about my life and how I operate in my relationships, my job, my different roles, and my calling.
Am I constantly going 100 miles an hour? Do I appreciate anything? Am I distracted and never giving anyone my full attention or love? Do I rush through things I should be enjoying, causing them to be burdensome?
“Often, we move so fast that sometimes we find it impossible to slow down and appreciate where we are in any particular moment. We think if we slow down, it means we’re lazy.
The Japanese have a word for this. It’s called Karoshi. It means death by overwork. In the United States, Dr. Larry Dossey coined the phrase “Time Sickness” in 1982 to talk about the obsessiveness we have about time and how we never have enough of it in our constant drive to do more. We live in a world where the fast outpace the slow and get ahead, but at what cost?
One of the costs of living life at super speed is that we don’t have time to live at a deeper level. Staying at the surface of life, we can’t make genuine connections with others or with our world. We don’t appreciate the food we’re eating, the people we interact with, or the beauty in the world around us.” – BrainTap
This last year, I have worked hard to renew my mind about the stress level I bring to everything for zero reason at all.
Oh, I need to run errands!! Does it require ALL THAT?? I need to make dinner and prepare the house for Bible Study… does it require the level of stress and panic I am operating in? My body tense, rushing around, and heart rate through the roof…
No. Not many things do. Even larger tasks do not require the stress and panic mode to be there 24/7.
My husband is excellent at letting me know when I am infecting him with my stress ball, and I try to come up with a reason WHY IT IS REQUIRED. But he is almost always right. It’s just not.
If we are in a constant state of rush and panic, how can we hear the still, small voice of the Lord? Personally, it’s difficult. Almost impossible. And if I live that way every day, my body and mind will burn out before I have completed my purpose for Jesus.
Underwater, down with the simple beauty of God’s creation, the peaceful quiet, the forced calmness… I slowed down enough to look around and appreciate what I was doing, what I was seeing and experiencing. It was fascinating.
But I don’t think I have to be underwater to live like this. I’m addicted to living in fast-paced, high-stress, panic mode, but I can renew my mind and take back my life! I can have joy; I can live with peace; I can appreciate very simple things, and I can live thankfully. My mind and body will thank me, and my loved ones will be blessed by this change.
“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
”Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.“ – Psalm 55:22
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Great Bible verses to keep at the forefront of our minds.
I also found this really excellent article on how to practically and intentionally begin to slow down in our lives. I think you will find it helpful! See the link below. Dr. Patrick Porter (Chief Executive Officer of , BrainTap) writes:
“It all comes down to the what kind of life you want. Do you enjoy an aggressive life, where you’re controlled by a clock, stressed out, constantly impatient for what comes next? Or do you want a life where you feel calm, patient and have connections with the people and things around you? It’s time to take control of the clock instead of letting the clock control you.”
My friends, let’s live differently. Let’s pump the breaks and build healthy, enjoyable lives!!
