Can't Sleep?!
How many of you can't sleep? How many of you the moment your head hits the pillow, thoughts go off like a rocket of “I didn't do this or I should do that?!”
How about those of us that keep a notepad by the bed so we can write things down?
I have been guilty of having a notepad by my side of the bed to use to make my to-do list. Then, I would flip the page and write all the stupid things I need to do like organize my closet!!! I am never going to organize my closet.... but I still have to write it down or I can't stop thinking about it, and the ‘train’ just keeps waking me up saying “sppttt you are going to forget to organize your closet....” Damnit it's been 2 hours and I still haven't been to sleep yet? Then the next thing you roll over and see your husband snoring away and wish you could swat him a little...anyone feel like that?
Well that was my regular nightly routine. Before I had the to-do list I would hardly sleep for fear I would forget something...so I graduated to the notepad. The notepad helped and I still use it occasionally. I now have graduated to being a child of God for my to-do list.
Since I came to the realization that my everyday life is not up to me, I don't keep a to-do list by my side of the bed. I still have it in case of emergency, but it is not a must have item before sleep.
My to-do list was such a must have item that I would lay it on my chest and write/scribble until I cleansed my brain of all it’s crazy ideas! I would scribble with my eyes closed and wake up sometimes with the list and the pen in the bed. This did help me get control of my thoughts. This did not help resolve the problem!!! On more than one occasion I wrote GET TO-DO LIST on my to-do list because I was afraid I would forget! And I still forgot the list....
The funny thing is I don't have to be afraid of forgetting. If I forgot the list or I forgot to do a task it is not the end of the world. DID YOU ABSORB THAT?! Is it not the end of the world!!!! If it is really important, it will be there tomorrow. If you failed, and it won't be there tomorrow, it probably was not meant to be yours. If you failed on one thing and failed one person - this does not mean you are a failure. This means you are human! Just a normal everyday screw up like the rest of us! Most people don't admit to being an everyday screw up. I admit it! I screw up and fail someone almost daily and I have come to terms with that... it’s ok!
At the end of a terrible day, I remind myself TOMORROW is a new day. Wake up, put your feet on the floor, and do something. Everyone has bad days and there are bad things in each day. The trick I found is to find the good in the day. What is the good thing that happen today? One example for the one good thing could be that the day is over! I've had that thought lots of times... The other good thing could be the coffee I had that morning or the comedy of errors when you review the days events.
I still organize my thoughts and I organize my hope for the day, but I don't keep a regular list any more. When I didn't check off all the things, I felt like a failure. I still feel like a failure, so I don't make too many task lists for my day anymore! I have a few select goals for the day and I do my best, but life happens.
I do keep sticky notes on my desk of ongoing issues to keep an eye on, or things for another day. But I ask God each day to guide me down his path. I ask God to lighten my burden and carry my load and HE DOES!
How about those of us that keep a notepad by the bed so we can write things down?
I have been guilty of having a notepad by my side of the bed to use to make my to-do list. Then, I would flip the page and write all the stupid things I need to do like organize my closet!!! I am never going to organize my closet.... but I still have to write it down or I can't stop thinking about it, and the ‘train’ just keeps waking me up saying “sppttt you are going to forget to organize your closet....” Damnit it's been 2 hours and I still haven't been to sleep yet? Then the next thing you roll over and see your husband snoring away and wish you could swat him a little...anyone feel like that?
Well that was my regular nightly routine. Before I had the to-do list I would hardly sleep for fear I would forget something...so I graduated to the notepad. The notepad helped and I still use it occasionally. I now have graduated to being a child of God for my to-do list.
Since I came to the realization that my everyday life is not up to me, I don't keep a to-do list by my side of the bed. I still have it in case of emergency, but it is not a must have item before sleep.
My to-do list was such a must have item that I would lay it on my chest and write/scribble until I cleansed my brain of all it’s crazy ideas! I would scribble with my eyes closed and wake up sometimes with the list and the pen in the bed. This did help me get control of my thoughts. This did not help resolve the problem!!! On more than one occasion I wrote GET TO-DO LIST on my to-do list because I was afraid I would forget! And I still forgot the list....
The funny thing is I don't have to be afraid of forgetting. If I forgot the list or I forgot to do a task it is not the end of the world. DID YOU ABSORB THAT?! Is it not the end of the world!!!! If it is really important, it will be there tomorrow. If you failed, and it won't be there tomorrow, it probably was not meant to be yours. If you failed on one thing and failed one person - this does not mean you are a failure. This means you are human! Just a normal everyday screw up like the rest of us! Most people don't admit to being an everyday screw up. I admit it! I screw up and fail someone almost daily and I have come to terms with that... it’s ok!
At the end of a terrible day, I remind myself TOMORROW is a new day. Wake up, put your feet on the floor, and do something. Everyone has bad days and there are bad things in each day. The trick I found is to find the good in the day. What is the good thing that happen today? One example for the one good thing could be that the day is over! I've had that thought lots of times... The other good thing could be the coffee I had that morning or the comedy of errors when you review the days events.
I still organize my thoughts and I organize my hope for the day, but I don't keep a regular list any more. When I didn't check off all the things, I felt like a failure. I still feel like a failure, so I don't make too many task lists for my day anymore! I have a few select goals for the day and I do my best, but life happens.
I do keep sticky notes on my desk of ongoing issues to keep an eye on, or things for another day. But I ask God each day to guide me down his path. I ask God to lighten my burden and carry my load and HE DOES!
Matthew 11: 28-30 is a passage that helps me. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If I am having a problem I tell God about it. If I am having an annoying thought that will not leave me - I tell God about it, and if it’s still there I tell him again and again until it is gone. I don’t like to worry about the same things over and over. I have decided my sleep problem was fixed by prayer. It was fixed by me telling God everything and asking him to take away my worries because I have enough stuff to do!
Have you prayed about it as much as you have worried about it?
When I lay down at night and my head hits the pillow my brain does not start the crazy train of thoughts anymore. I typically fall asleep within minutes. I normally sleep like a rock. I wake up refreshed. If I can’t shake a thought I write it down, and if I forget the to-do list, God will remind me if it's part of my day. Give yourself a little slack. It's impossible to remember everything...all the time!
Be Different Folks!
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