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Finding Balance and Staying Connected

July 31, 2016

Working in the film industry often leads me to quite the unbalanced life. Sometimes, I work a normal 40 hour work week. Sometimes, let’s just say it’s a few hours more. In the crunch periods of a given film, I’m lucky if I can get 3 meals in and 6 hours of sleep. Recently, I’ve been in one of these “crunchy” times. Coming home only to shower, sleep, and see Scout. Don’t get me wrong, I signed up for this gig. I love the films that we produce and I’m proud to be on the team. But lately, I’ve felt completely out of whack. I’ve felt lethargic, sluggish, out of touch with my body, my spirit, my mind. I felt negative and overwhelmed.

I had to reevaluate why. I know given what I just said, it should be obvious. Oh, maybe I don’t feel well because I just eat whatever food I can find in between meetings. Or my body aches because I’ve been at my computer and sitting in meetings. When thinking about my day-to-day, the problem seems obvious. It wasn’t for me at first to be honest. I got caught up so much in the whirlwind of it all that it took me a second to actually realize, “I’m in the chaotic part of the schedule. My life is not always like this. This isn’t what my normal looks like.” It’s almost embarrassing how long something so obvious took to cross my mind but here we are. What took me even longer was the solution.

I realized that on my days off, I was trying to force myself to get all the “to do” items taken care of but wasn’t taking a minute for myself. Or if I was taking that minute, the guilt was overwhelming. I was hard on myself. I was frustrated and disappointed in myself because I didn’t have the energy to do what I needed to do. All I could do was sit down with Scout for a few minutes after scarfing down left over pizza and getting some extra sleep. I love getting things done, the feeling of accomplishment is great, don’t get me wrong. But I was forgetting what comes first.

I feel my very best when I have spent some time to intentionally connect. Connect with my mind, my feelings, my body, my spirit.

I started reading Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson. I mean, I just started this. I’m not very far into it and I’m already recommending it. It’s all about balance and being connected with the very things that I was completely untethered.

So, I went back to my roots. I have always enjoyed taking time in the morning to sit down with a cup of coffee, my devotional, my journal, my bible, and something inspiring. When I start my morning with these items, my whole day is set up for success. I’m lighter. I feel more free. I’m more motivated. I feel even more inspired to take care of myself.

fromabove

What’s in my toolbox currently is: Savor by Shauna Niequist. I’m recording my thoughts in a leather bound journal. I’m finding new meaning in my new Message bible. I’m inspired by Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson. And I’m finding more effective way to live well with The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endess Demands by Lysa TerKeurst.

upclose

When I connect with myself and with God first thing in the morning, I feel centered the rest of the day. I love sipping my cup of coffee while I look at the Word in a new way. Better yet, I love being outside while I write my thoughts in my journal. To feel the sun’s warmth and to breathe the fresh air puts me even more in touch with myself and I’m better able to tap into my resources.

Of course, Scout is there too.

Scoutfacingme.jpg

Really though, it’s about what’s right for you. The most important part is listen to the signs, the warning signals. If I had a headache, I think: “have I eaten?” “have I had enough water?” “have I been looking at the computer screen for too long?” “do I need more sleep?” Our bodies, our minds, our spirits, they tell us what we need. It’s just up to us to listen, process it, and get what we need.

I think that sometimes, our hearts and spirits are overlooked. I was feeling negative, out of touch, out of control. It wasn’t as easy as a solve as getting rid a headache (which isn’t always easy either). When my soul feels off kilter, that’s not such a simple fix. The biggest problem was I was ignoring the signs. I kept going, 100 miles an hour. It’s okay to give myself that break. It’s okay to give yourself that break. It’s okay to schedule that in for an hour a day. For me, it’s best in the morning so I can start my day off on the right foot. For you, it may be meditating right before bed. It’s what’s right for you. Busy doesn’t always mean successful. Being excessively busy, busy, busy actually sets you up for failure. For things to be harder. I don’t know about you but I’m all about  smooth sailing and making the course a little easier to navigate.

If that means starting my morning with what feeds my soul, then that’s what I’m going to do. Being connected and strong is only a positive. It is never a negative.

In Pretty Happy, Kate Hudson writes:

“We are all body smart. We all have the capacity and the potential to nurture this intuitive relationship with our bodies, calm our minds, and become empowered to steer our lives in the direction of our dreams. To me, that’s what living smart is all about.”

Trust me, I’m still figuring this out. How to achieve balance on a daily basis both when I’m working 9-6 and when I’m working a bit more. How to love others but also to not forget to love myself as well. To keep it all together. To live well.

It’s baby steps. For me, it starts with a quiet time in the morning. That may evolve, be added to. All I know is that I’m ready to make myself a priority and that decision feels pretty good. What about you? Are you ready? I dare you.

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Filed Under: Guides Tagged With: balance, books, coffee, connected, devotion, dog, faith, los angeles, mental health, nature, soul, spirit, young professional

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Comments

  1. Mickie James says

    August 2, 2016 at 7:56 am

    Firstly, let me say I love your blog! It’s like watching you grow up. I know you really wanted to hear THAT. But, I’m 62, I’ve been a type A person since I was 3 yrs old, r at least it seems that way!
    You have learned a very important lesson, I urge you to keep it in front of you. Post-it notes on your mirror – signs on the wall, whatever it takes to keep this lesson front and center. Because if you don’t….you will have to learn it over and over….as I did.
    Centering, building the relationship with your Creator and understanding that guilt is the absolute most useless and destructive emotion. And there is a huge difference between conviction and guilt. Conviction motivates change and you feel good about making progress. Guilt paralysis. There is no forward motion with guilt, no joy, no victory.
    I am SO proud to read this. No I’m not your mom LOL

    Reply
    • Scout and Bex says

      October 8, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      Mickie! Your encouragement means a lot. There are lessons I’ve had to learn multiple times but they’ve meant different things depending on where I’m at in my life. Things were much different in high school then they were in college then when I first moved to California, to now. I think the most important thing I’ve learned though is to give myself grace and to let myself be human. I so appreciate you taking the time to write these words to me. All the best.

      Reply

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@SCOUTANDBEX 
BIGGEST LESSON IM TAKING FROM 2020: ✨find joy i BIGGEST LESSON IM TAKING FROM 2020:

✨find joy in the small every day moments✨

Life is hard. And beautiful. And tragic. And inspiring. It’s everything all the time and all at once.

Stay grounded. Stay rooted in Christ and who HE is. We are living in a broken world but our feet stay firmly and humbly planted in the truth that is our whole and complete God.

Your identity is in Christ and the more you believe that and stay rooted in its freedom, the beautiful moments will become amplified and they will become a part of you.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours🖤 peace Merry Christmas from our family to yours🖤 peace on Earth and good will towards everyone ❄️
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is brigh Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

🕯
Merry&Bright✨ Got to show some friends my paren Merry&Bright✨

Got to show some friends my parents house all decked out in Christmas tonight over facetime and if that’s not merry and bright, I don’t know what is.

Lets file this one under: moments in 2020 to take with me

I hope you’re finding your own small merry and bright moments. I’d love to hear about them in the comments because ya know...sharing is caring and what’s more Christmasy then that?

📸: @jmgrant2016 as per usual
The Christmas season doesn’t look the same as la The Christmas season doesn’t look the same as last year or quite frankly any year before that.

In a very real way, I am so grateful for my health and my loved ones heath more than ever before. And more then ever, I feel supremely blessed for the relationships in my life near or far.

This may be a difficult holiday for you this year. Maybe you’re grieving. The loss of a loved one or a job or traditions. You might be spending this holiday alone or missing family members because they live far away and can’t travel.

Whatever it is, know you’re not alone. I see you and honor what your season may look like. We will get through this one way or another and on the other side, may we feel a little more blessed than we did before.

Love you all. Especially @jmgrant2016 who I wish I could stand in front of the Christmas tree at Disneyland with this year too🖤
Cheersing you with cocoa that Christmas Eve is jus Cheersing you with cocoa that Christmas Eve is just one week away!☕️🎄🔔

In case you have any Christmas shopping left, check out my new reel with my best tips for buying the perfect present every time🥰

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