One of the most essential, yet often overlooked, needs of our physical body is rest. Our daily activities place significant stress on our bodies. With the constant demands of modern life—raising kids, maintaining a home, and keeping up with fitness routines—rest and reflection often get pushed aside.

At some point, many of us have experienced being forced into rest by circumstances beyond our control, such as an injury, illness, or mental exhaustion. This is our body's way of demanding the rest we haven't been giving it proactively.

Rest operates on two levels. First, our physical bodies need rest. We need sleep, and our muscles need time to repair and rejuvenate. Second, we need to rest our minds and energy from the constant barrage of stressors and responsibilities.

This isn’t an excuse to neglect your duties. Responsibilities must be met. However, when you are well-rested, you perform better at everything. Balancing between the “must-dos” and relaxation makes everything easier.

We all have an inner child that needs to play. We need moments to rebel against our responsibilities, to be silly and adventurous, and to savor life. As adults, we often forget this. We take ourselves too seriously and strive for perfection, forgetting to truly live.

​​This is about making healthy, non-destructive choices that provide energy and joy. It's about giving yourself permission to rest your body, mind, and soul. Consider this an invitation to throw a frisbee, fly a kite, or escape to nature for a few days with a close friend.

Years ago, I was asked, "How exactly does one 'give it up to God'?" This question has stayed with me, prompting deep reflection. We were discussing how to handle things beyond our control. It’s human nature to worry about everything, believing we can think our way out of problems. Yet, as life presents more complex challenges, this approach often leads to suffering.

We encounter many situations we simply can't control. The "circle of influence" concept from self-help and mental health fields teaches us this distinction. Large-scale politics, the death of a loved one, and others' perceptions of us are all beyond our control. Despite this, we still try to manage them.

This is where the phrase "give it up to God" comes in. At its core, it means letting go. It involves having faith that everything will work out, even if it doesn’t follow our envisioned path. Surrendering to God means releasing what causes stress or anxiety. It’s about doing less, not more.

If you've done everything possible in a situation, let it go. Don’t ruminate until a solution appears. Truly and deeply release it. Don’t rent precious mental space to the problem any longer. Move on with your life. Focus on what you can control—primarily your response. Be who you want to be. The crisis will resolve itself one way or another, and if you can’t influence the outcome, simply move on. In the meantime, giving it up to God creates inner peace and harmony, which is far more enjoyable than fretting until something breaks free.

​By embracing this mindset, you align with the flow of life, finding serenity and strength in letting go.

Have you ever heard the phrase "we should live in abundance"? If you're like me, it’s one of those sayings we acknowledge without fully understanding. Some might think it means being grateful, while others might believe it’s about saving money and living abundantly.

To understand "living in abundance," let’s first clarify what it isn't. If you constantly worry about money or feel you can never get ahead, you’re living with a poverty mindset. If you believe you must work long hours to succeed, you’re living in scarcity of time. If you think people don’t like you and are always criticizing you, you’re living in scarcity of love.

These mindsets are rooted in fear and insecurity. We fear that without working ourselves to the bone, we won’t survive. We worry that disaster is always just around the corner, leaving us broke or homeless. We fear that if people don’t like us, we are somehow flawed.

Living in abundance means living in faith, peace, and contentment. It’s about trusting that a greater power is guiding us. Without this faith, we feel alone and purposeless. When we trust that we are protected and guided, we can rest easy, knowing that all the money, love, and time we need are already ours.

To start living in abundance, try adopting the mantra, "I have all the time in the world." Write it on sticky notes and place them around your home. When you feel pressed for time, remind yourself that you actually have all the time you need. This simple shift in perspective can help create the time you desire. What we give to the universe, we receive. By declaring you have an abundance of time, that’s exactly what you’ll experience.

​​We are all playing a game with rules we set or inherited. If you feel scarcity in your life, it might be time to change the rules.