Are You Tired?

Are you tired?  I mean much of the time?  Are you pretty sure it isn’t directly a physical issue?  If so, then you will want to read this blog because being tired, weary and fatigued has become epidemic in our society.  Many of us don’t realize just how much we have been through and continue to deal with on a daily basis with the pandemic, the daily threat of sickness, constant changes and mandates from the state and government, racial issues, not being able to see loved ones and friends for long stretches, political issues that change daily, loss of jobs, loss of income, loss of self-esteem, loss of career, loss of loved ones, remote learning, uncertainty about whether kids will be in school for learning or learning remotely and the issues that come with this uncertainty, shutdowns and lockdowns that have affected so many, price increases for almost everything you buy to live, the threat of terrorism, and the uncertainty of the future.  These are, in addition, to any other personal battles you might be facing. When you read these and think about all that we have faced and continue to face, it is no wonder that as a people we are so tired. It takes so much energy to face these things each and every day.

Acute anxiety lasts for short spurts when we are facing a problem or crisis and then it dissipates.  However, when you are kept in a constant state of anxiety, it becomes chronic.  And chronic anxiety leads to great fatigue – which over time, can lead to indirect physical issues. Though they didn’t stem from a physical condition, the stress of your anxiety can create physical issues. We have learned much about the mind-body condition in the past decade or so. We know our brain and how it functions can affect every aspect of our lives – physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. And since we are all living in a constant state of uncertainty, we are very prone to chronic anxiety, which wears us down on all levels.

Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux states, “Uncertainty is the breeding ground of anxiety.” Peter Steinke says that “anxiety can overpower thoughtfulness.”1  He also says when we are “uncertain, we tend to replace thought with emotion.”2

So, we need to be aware of the enormous amount of pressure we are currently under. Knowing this reminds us that when we do unusual things (even stupid things!) and feel so tired, it is quite normal and most other people are dealing with the same thing. Also, awareness, allows us to take action to fight against the constant anxiety that comes from uncertainty, an unchanging world and the bombardment of bad news every day.  I notice in my own life, and in many people around me, that chronic anxiety makes me feel scattered and unfocused.

SCATTERED

There used to be a term that people would call other people who seemed to do things that made no sense or act disorganized as “scatter brains.”  We become scattered when we lose our base or true north.  Some would say you have lost your “anchor” or others would say you have lost your core values or priorities.  Jesus talked in Matthew 6:25-34 about not worrying. He talked about it because He knew everyone battles it. Jesus taught here to focus on true north or your core values –  pursuing God as your number one priority.  He knows we are going to be concerned about the regular and daily needs of our lives.  And God wants us to live responsibly so we can work, make money and pay our bills.  God created us to be stewards of what he has given us – including our work, families and our belongings.  But He wants us to do it all out of staying grounded in Him. We become scattered in our thinking under pressure when we forget that God is with us and that He has our back.  This may sound mudane, but we need to be reminded, because this simple truth will free us up to do the work and the daily things we need to do to survive a long-term crisis and find meaning in them. So remember as you struggle daily against being scattered, that God has your back, and the struggle is a gift from Him so you can keep going. Being in the fight is a blessing.  It means you are alive and living for a purpose! 

UNFOCUSED

I find myself drifting into being unfocused – almost like staring into space at times during this past year and a half.  I feel like I am aimlessly wondering around in a wilderness. Are you feeling this?  Stress does silly and crazy things to our brains.  What helps is staying in my routines.  The things that were beneficial, that kept me healthy and living with meaning prior to this crisis, are much of the same things that I need to come back to and keep doing. I find it more difficult during stressful times to stay attached to these, yet I need them more than ever right now.  God is a God of order. He wants us to order our lives around our priorities and core values as I said earlier. Order is what keeps us going.  Order is harder to maintain during stressful times, but the more we find it and live in its groove, the more clarity we will have in our lives.  Clarity leads to calmness, which leads us to clearer and better thinking.

During a crisis – especially a prolonged and pronounced crisis such as we are living through – we need to find again our priorities and routines (which are based in our priorities) and work hard to stay in them (and part of our routines needs to be fun and relaxing things).  They really synergize together in protecting us from the stress that can destroy us from within during extremely stressful times.  They aren’t easy to hold onto to, but I find the days that I do, are really so much better and so much more rewarding for myself. I feel healthier!  And that makes me a better husband, father, co-worker and follower of Jesus to everyone.

Until next month, God bless and stay well!

Jack

1 – Peter Steinke, Uproar, p. 7

2 – Peter Steinke, Uproar, p. 8