Fear Is The Mind-Killer

During all the 2020 craziness, the election mess, and the Covid fears, I hope that you are taking care of your mental health. If you are married and/or have kids, I want to encourage you to pay attention to your family’s mental health as well.

If you follow me on social media, you have probably noticed that I have not been posting about politics or the election. Yes, I voted. Yes, I have strong personal beliefs and convictions. No, I am not ashamed or embarrassed of where I stand. No, I do not reject people simply because they do not vote as I do. I have chosen to not post about it, because I do not want to add to the divisive environment on social media. As previously stated, I try to be aware of joy-thieves, and I have not felt that I have had anything profound to say that had not already been said.

Instead, I have been trying to focus on my relationship with God, with my husband, and with my kids. I am enjoying this season of being present, and having the time to workout and cook, and focus on my goals and dreams.

A very hard part of my life has forced me to be very careful about my mental health. After my ex-husband abused me, I fell into a very dark place emotionally, mentally, and financially. It was a very hard struggle, but God was (and is) faithful, and I am so very thankful for where I am today.

I recommend Bible reading, prayer, and social interaction to help boost mental health. Know when to shut off social media and the news. Make sure that you are MOVING. Even just a simple long walk outdoors can do wonders. I personally love to challenge myself with workouts that are both physically and mentally stimulating.

If you are married, think about what you can do to help your spouse’s mental health, or at least what you can do to make sure that you are not insensitive to their needs. Remember my post about making sure that you are dating your spouse and spending one-on-one time with them!

If you have kids, please understand that they are so sensitive and often feel things that we do not. They can sense tension and somehow know when things are not quite right. I have noticed that my kids act up worse on my own bad days or when I am not feeling well. This has been a hard season for them as well, because normal routines of school and sports and friends has been disrupted.

There is a great quote by Frank Herbert, the author of Dune, that says: “Fear is the mind-killer.” The Bible has a LOT to say about fear, one of the things being that God has not given us a spirit of fear. We are not called to be slaves to fear, but with God’s help, to rise above our fear and walk with a strong mind!

#momlife #fearisthemindkiller #fearnot #trustGod