How to stay organized and the value of being still

Hi friends!!

Gosh, it seems like it’s been so long since I’ve just written a blog post. Not a travel guide, not a recipe, just simply writing to you. I miss it!!!

The last 8 months in LA have been WILD and I’ve been so busy/excited about everything going on. In January I tore my ACL and just had the surgery 3 weeks ago. I’ve been forced to slow down and rest in order to heal so long story short, I’ve been learning a lot. haha!

I’m genuinely so grateful for the time I had at home in my initial recovery because I realized how badly I needed to rest! It’s funny how sometimes we don’t realize that until we are physically injured and forced to be still.

One of the biggest things I learned was that there were so many things that happened to me when I was younger that I never dealt with properly or fully processed that ended up manifesting in wrong mindsets, behavior patterns and bad habits that affected not only how I view other people (and God) but how I treat them as well.

Usually the reason was just that I decided I didn’t have time so I pushed it to the side or suppressed it because I was “too busy” to deal with it. Oh if I knew the value of being still back then.

As I began to uncover these lie-dentities (lies that we believe our identity but really aren’t heehee) and relive some of the most painful experiences, it felt like a bright light blasted it’s way into a room that’s been dark for 10 years. Speaking truth over the lies and casting out my fears was so freeing but also painful.

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

– John 8:31-32

I finally feel like for the first time, I’m actively taking the steps to heal, not let the past control or limit my current situation and lean into what God is calling me to in the future.

There’s no way to live into your fullest potential if you’re full of guilt and shame from the past, and/or burnt out and exhausted from doing too much. We don’t have to earn rest. We don’t deserve it, we need it. and you don’t have to feel bad for saying no to things so you can take time for yourself to do a face mask, go on a walk or dare I say it, but SLEEP!

That’s been so hard for me to learn because I like to think I’m invincible and can do it all. I will say though, since I’ve taken a step back and been obedient to rest, God has been opening doors and giving me new opportunities.

Wanna know why? Probably because I’m not trying to do it in my own strength. It’s all coming from Him.

With this shift in mindset, I’m completely changing my approach to how I schedule my weeks. I’m still super busy but I’m carving out more time to rest and be with Jesus.

Something that’s helping me tremendously is this DaySpring Planner. It’s part planner, part devotional, so as I’m scheduling out my week, there’s verses and uplifting messages surrounding the days to remind me that God’s got me and He’s going to get me through.

The pages are so beautiful and there are colorful floral, verse pictures throughout the entire thing. I’m obsessed with it. If staying organized and on top of your schedule is hard for you, I would highly recommend checking these out because I think it would really encourage you!

Just wanted to thank you for being here, for reading and for being part of my life. This community is so special to me and I love being able to share my heart with you and take you through the REAL moments of this life.

Love you more than ice cream.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:25-34

xx Nicole #DoStuff