December 5, 2024 |
In the greatest commandment of the Bible, Jesus reminds us that loving ourselves is a precondition to loving God and others, including those closest to us, when he said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39). If loving ourselves means anything, it means consistently engaging in self-care and mental wellness to love others with our best selves.
2024 was a highly competitive election year in the United States that left many of us exhausted and stressed out. How do we find renewal to prepare for a new year with possibly more economic challenges and division? Suppose you are concerned about the human condition. In that case, you may even be contemplating how you contribute to efforts in the New Year to address the injustices of our time, whether by voting, community service, or other means. What better way to equip yourself for righteous resistance to unjust laws than using the coming holiday season to engage in the joy that comes from self-care and mental wellness? Here are some tips for you to consider.
First, prioritize self-care activities. In the 168 hours of your week, take time for things like spa treatments, engaging in physical fitness, and reading for pleasure.
Second, protect your mind and promote mental wellness by escaping the emotional bombardment of negative TV, cable, or social media news. Instead, get your news in the morning on your smartphone in your quiet space so you will know the four to five key local or national stories featured all day. Spend the rest of your free time watching sports, comedy, and other uplifting shows, including those on YouTube channels and Podcasts that positively fortify your soul.
Third, connect or reconnect with family and friends. Enjoy the laughter that comes from catching up and engaging with those you love and who care about you as a way of fortifying yourself emotionally.
Fourth, read empowering Psalms 1, 5, 8, 18, 23, 27, 34, 41, 103, and 139. These and other spiritually fortifying scriptures remind you that God's power in you is greater than any power in the world. Other uplifting reads include Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation, by Pastor Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes and Pastor Andrew Wilkes, or Jesus Calling: With Scriptures by Sarah Young. Such inspiring reading will help you practice God's presence and fortify yourself mentally, spiritually, and emotionally for whatever lies ahead. Enjoy your family and enjoy your life. You deserve it. You’ve earned it, and you’ll need it!
That's today's good news!
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