In today’s world of doom scrolling, you-tube, and social media do you take time to reflect? Do you take time to be still, quiet and just let your thoughts wash over you. I didn’t for a long time, but now I do. Over the last 20 years I have gone from a know it all 20 year old, to a husband, father, and provider for my family and in that process my priority’s have shifted dramatically. I think more about life, health, friendship and GOD, and making time to just be quiet…. it makes all the difference in my overall wellness and outlook for the day.
Here are some of the ways I spend my quiet time.
- Morning drive to work, listening to worship music. I love the hour drive to work, it gives me time to listen to some of my favorite worship songs and just allows me to sing along and consider all of the things I really don’t understand in life. It always puts me in a good mood and calms my nerves for whatever problem may come up in the day.
- Keeping a Journal. One of the things I have recently started doing is writing in a journal. Not so much writing about daily occurrences like you see folks do in the movies, more so just writing down whatever is on my mind at a given time. Whether its notes from an audio book I was listening to, to prayers, to goals it all goes in the journal. It really has helped me just put my thoughts on paper and to go back to those thoughts when needed.
- Listening to music. I know, counter intuitive right, its supposed to be quiet time. But the truth is music calms me down, it centers me. No matter what I might be dealing with music always helps.
- Prayer. I know some of you are thinking, “Oh No” “Not this prayer stuff”, but the truth is one of my favorite things to do in my “Quiet Time” is pray. Even if its something trivial. I don’t expect an immediate answer from GOD, but I know at some point I will get an answer, even if its not one I want or expect. I didn’t read the bible growing up, only listened to my grandmother and what she use to tell me about GOD. As I have gotten older I have realized that talking with GOD is one of the most therapeutic things I can do.
Hopefully this post helps you to develop your own quiet time routine. The end results of a daily quiet time can not only help to ease your mind of stress, but also can also allow you to expand your mind and your thinking, at least that’s my opinion.
“in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” – Isaiah 30:15
