A little honesty here. As I write this, I am sitting here crying after yet another difficult morning and afternoon with my family, and, to be more honest, I don't really have time to cry nor time to write, but I am.
Why?
Because when I called out to God to help me stop being swept away by energy-zapping emotion and to guide me back to doing what I need to do for the rest of this day and the days to come, "5 x 5" came into mind. Then, as I walked myself through the quick and easy five questions about 5's, I realized you, too, might be sitting in overwhelm unable to move through your own emotion and distraction in order to get back to priorities and God-centered living.
Thus, I felt called to take a moment to share a simple exercise that sometimes helps me move over a hump in life - even when that hump seems mountainous!
Things Don't Always Go As Planned
We've all heard it before: Life does not always go as planned. In fact, sometimes, it veers off course and you begin to get stuck in the mire of myriad challenges, unexpected pitfalls, ill choices, and bad behaviors.
Things go wrong. Tasks pile up. Important matters get lost among urgent ones. People lose all sense of kindness, charity, and self control. Sleep seems like a luxury that you cannot afford. And, life becomes,well, an ideal breeding ground for the evil one to begin to whisper - even shout - lies that you and yours, unfortunately, start believing.
So, what do you do when this happens? What recourse is there when frustration and foils mount up and everyone starts acting out with vice?
Might I suggest that you simply stop? That's right. Stop. JUST STOP! Stop long enough to pray, Gold help me, and then, to think: 5x5.
What is 5 x 5 ?
When overwhelm, emotions, and distraction seem to be at an apex, think: Ask yourself: Will this matter in five minutes? Five days? Five weeks? Five months? Five years?
Most often, at least one your answers will be, "no" and, knowing that makes it so much easier to put things into perspective, move away from exacerbating emotion, and move back to priorities with purpose, practicality, and prayer.
Seriously, if something won't matter in five minutes, let it go.
If it won't matter in five days, go ahead, give it a little energy if you must, but, then, give over to God.
If it won't matter in five months or five years, how much do you really need to focus on it right now?
And if it will matter in five year - or even longer - why will it matter and what you can you do about it? Get onto doing what you can and give the rest over to God.
Recognize that it is what it is, and you only have so much control over things. If something is important, give it energy and focus and, then wait on God to do the rest.
And, remember: most things don't matter in the long run besides making good and God-centered choices and practicing virtues.
Respond with Perspective
Remember, too: It is okay to cry. It's okay to feel. It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay when other people make mistakes. And, without question, struggles in life - big ones and small - are inevitable. What is optional is defeat.
It's pretty obvious that you cannot always choose what happens to you nor to those around you. You cannot control what other people say and do. Sometimes, you cannot even choose your feelings. Emotions just well up inside of you.
But, you can choose how you look at things, how you prioritize, how express yourself, react, and respond.
You can face challenges without spiraling into destructive mindsets born from letting emotion and distraction be a breeding ground for vice.
You can ask, what WILL matter in five years? Five months? Five weeks? Five days? Five minutes?
Your next choice.
My friend, whatever you do, whatever you say, is going to move your closer or further from how you are called to live.
As long as it will move you closer, act on that choice.
Recenter yourself on what matters and don't let distraction nor overwhelming emotion do you and yours in.
You've got this, and, even if you don't, God does.
Offer it up. Give it over. Trust. And get on with what matters.
May God grant you peace, mercy, and grace!
