time for a newstart

By Ken Johnson, M.A., LPC Founder & CEO, East West Psychotherapy Associates Marietta, GA

Can you feel it? Spring is in the air. I look forward to a reawakening. The cold staleness of winter gives way to the warmth and newness of Spring. This is the perfect time to reassess your personal life. It may be time for a fresh start. Consider where you are right now. Are there parts of you that need a reboot? A fresh start? Going forward, what changes do you need to make to be a better person?

Each of us have times in our life where we become overwhelmed and over committed. We try to say “yes” to everyone and everything. Our western culture today tells us we should “have it all”, “if you dream it, you can have it.” We become gods to our own belief that we are the most important person. Who are we kidding? We can’t have it all because this world is not ours to begin with. God is the creator of this world and we are entrusted to take care of it. Whatever we do or whoever we become, it is God’s grace that keeps us moving forward.

Whenever we find ourselves spinning our wheels and getting nowhere, it is time to stop and reconsider how we got here. For many of us, it’s recognizing we are doing too much. We are being too busy.

Being too busy leads to exhaustion which can lead to stress and depression due to mental health fatigue. Our physical bodies can’t handle the stress and it shows up in high blood pressure, digestive problems, headaches, sleep disturbances, emergency visits to the doctor, heart attacks, strokes and even death.

I have seen firsthand in my own life how stress can affect my health. Doing too much, over committing myself, and thinking I’m the only one who can get the job done right has caused me to suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder and has landed me in the Emergency Room on several occasions. I realize that if I don’t get a hold of my stress, I run the risk of serious health problems. I told myself “time for a fresh start.”

The question is, how does one reboot their life? How does one have a fresh start? I think one starts by looking at scripture. Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a

At some point every one of us must decide to start again, begin to move forward and change our circumstances for the better. Here are three ways I have found that help me get a fresh start.

*Inventory my life and begin to eliminate the nonessentials.

What’s not working for me now in my present state? It might have worked last year. This year it is not bringing me joy. It is better to stop doing the things that are no longer essential so I can take a break, recharge and look for new opportunities.

*Decide on one or two commitments that bring me joy and concentrate on these.

I am more productive and less stressed when I have less on my plate. Fewer responsibilities mean I can concentrate on those activities that really bring me joy. I can really make a difference when less is more.

*Spend time with God every day.

As a believer in Christ, I know how important it is to stay in touch with my Savior. There are times I find I am so busy that I lose touch with God. I forget to keep my mind on Him. I must remember to:

*Pray (talk to God)

*Read my Bible (listen to God)

*Recognize God all around me (find God) way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Too often we hold onto our past mistakes, we remember when we have been hurt or done wrong, we feel broken and unnecessary, we want to quit and not go on. But God tells us He is doing something new in us. He wants us to give up our failures, our old hurts, our cluttered lives and start over right where we are. God wants us to join Him. In Psalms 46:10, God says “Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God.” I don’t know about you, but I could sit and ponder that verse all day.

By practicing these three areas of change, I find my stress begins to subside. I’m less anxious and find more joy in my everyday routine. I also find the more I practice getting close to God, the more I discover God’s plan for my life. There is no stress in Christ who is our great comforter. Do you need a new start in life? Now’s the time to be intentional and slow down. Let some things go and rest in the Father. Spring is just around the corner.

Byline:

It is through God that I have found true healing. For more information visit eastwestpsych.com or contact Ken at kjohnson@eastwestpsych.com.