Wellbeing Thought for Thursday 25th February 2021

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Thursday 25 Feb

Gratitude

“Rejoice always, … give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5.16-18)

Studies have shown that the attitude of gratitude can increase our happiness by as much as 25%. It helps us savour the good things in life. But it’s not enough to feel gratitude – we need to express it. Some people write down three things they are grateful for each night. The Book of Psalms is full of songs of gratitude to God. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter full of gratitude to God … from prison! (Read Philippians 4.4)

> Which gratitude habits could you adopt? Read Psalm 103 and write your own list of what you’re grateful to God for.

Combatting Zoom Fatigue

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(This is from a longer article by Curt Thompson. Read the full article here…)

By now, most of us have noticed. And either we or someone we know is talking about it. Zoom fatigue. Irritability. No fever, cough or body aches necessary. Just the normal, run-of-the-mill symptoms of social distancing. And mostly, people are describing how much more exhausted they are at the end of their days compared to what their lives were like before three weeks ago. All of this highlights one element of what it truly means to be human that our encounter with the coronavirus has drawn our attention to: our bodies.

God made our bodies as part of what it means for us to be human, and much like asking someone to breathe air that is only 15% oxygen instead of the normal 20%, we’re asking our bodies to do things they were not made to do. Even so, along with other suggestions I have offered regarding COVID-19, here are some additional things you can do to help:

  1. Make it a practice to take at least three 5-10 minute walks every day. Shorter, more frequent movement not only extends your body’s movement over the course of the day, it also gives you something to look forward to throughout the day, thereby reducing your anxiety along with your irritation.
  2. If possible, change your location of work in your home. This may be challenging, but different physical locations within your home over time gives your body the awareness of movement by virtue of being in a novel location.
  3. When possible, stand while doing work, especially when using a screen. This practice enables your body to work even while being less mobile.
  4. As you are able, limit the number of people on videocalls to three or less. This may sound unreasonable, or impossible. But the fewer people your brain—and body—has to keep track of, the less tired you will be. This may simply sound like common sense. That’s because it is.
  5. Greet as many people as you can whenever you are able. There is little cost to acknowledging the presence of another person, and we need to be acknowledged even by strangers. Not only will your thinking mind give and receive it, your body will as well.
  6. Plan for daily singing/worship while standing. Sing along with your most loved YouTube worship video as a means to use your body to tell your mind and soul that you are quite alive—and that you are not alone.
  7. Talk about your anger. There may be nothing more important than having a close friend or counselor validate that your anger is real and isn’t crazy. Not to mention that talking to someone about your feelings connects you to another person, which in and of itself will reduce your irritability and give you a greater sense of agency.
  8. Practice contemplative prayer. This form of prayer, especially while standing, strengthens your capacity to live in the present moment which protects against the irritability that emerges in the face of immobility.

Our bodies are hard at work. And although we are in a season in which we are asking them to work differently and harder than usual, know that you are not alone, and your work is not in vain.

Wellbeing Thought for Wednesday 24th February 2021

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Wednesday, 24 Feb

A hope that doesn’t disappoint

Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp, tells how hope was the most important factor in surviving. Hope is the belief that things can change. It sustains us. It helps us deal with suffering and disappointments. It’s important that we learn to deal effectively with such disappointments, including the need to mourn a sense of loss before moving on. Often, when we trust God, he will bring turnaround in his way and his timing. As Christians, our deepest sense of hope is that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and rose triumphantly from the grave. All things will be put right when he returns!

> Bring your disappointments to God and renew your trust in him. Read and meditate on Romans 15.13.

Wellbeing Thought for Tuesday 23rd February 2021

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Tuesday, 23 Feb

Beloved

The most significant truth about our new identity in Jesus is that we are deeply loved. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are loved by him and the Beloved of God (see Ephesians 1.5-6 and Colossians 3.12).  How does God usually reveal his love for us?

  • Through the Bible: It’s full with God’s promises – read 1 John 3.1 and Romans 8.38-39.
  • Through the Holy Spirit, God’s love is poured into our hearts (Romans 5.5).
  • Through other people: we are made for community. Read Ephesians 3.17-18 and note how we are to experience God’s love with others.

> Slowly read and meditate on 1 John 3.18 and Romans 8.15-17.

Wellbeing Thought for Monday 22nd February 2021

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Monday 22 Feb

Freedom from Fear

Not all fear is bad – it can be the right response to danger, releasing adrenaline when we need it! The fear we are talking about today is the fear that is stealing our peace or that becomes a prison. The first step is to identify your fear and put a name to it. God’s love can replenish us and heal our fears as we see in the story of Elijah (1 Kings 19ff).

To confront your fears you may need a trusted friend or spiritual leader to pray with you. If you are aware of obvious fears, write them down. What are the roots and when did they take hold? Ask God to reveal other fears that are less obvious and bring them all to him. Ask God to fill you with his perfect love (1 John 4.18). Consider seeking the help of a counsellor if you have ongoing crippling fears.

Wellbeing Thought for Sunday 21st February 2021

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WEEK THREE: EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

Sunday 21 Feb

Emotional health matters

You may think you’re doing quite well with your emotional health. Dave Smith, the author of this course, only realised how much better his emotional health could be when he faced some of the ‘shadow sides’ of his personality type. Or you may be experiencing symptoms of depression or even burnout. God has a plan for our replenishment and wellbeing.

Our emotions matter! We see in Jesus’ life that he sometimes was joyful, angry, sad, grieving. God’s Spirit wants to heal us so that we can express our emotions in a healthy way. There is a place for both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ emotions. Problems arise when we carry negative emotions long-term. For every negative emotion you endure, try to experience two or three positive ones! As Christians develop their relationship with the Holy Spirit, they experience the positive ‘fruit’ of his presence: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5.22-23)

Take another look at your emotional dial: Is it red, amber or green? Invite the Holy Spirit to heal you and grow positive ‘fruit’ in your life.

 

210221 Sunday Worship: Emotional Wellbeing

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Today we are exploring emotional wellbeing and coming together to chat, pray, sing, read the Bible and learn together is proven to improve our wellbeing. Edda and Christoph are leading the service live from the Rectory. [Find all the links below]

Church Coffee Online…

Sign up for The Wellbeing Journey…

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:

Wellbeing for pre-schoolers…

Wellbeing for Keystage 1&2…

Bible puzzle colouring in sheets…

Download the latest Denham Parish News…

Mark’s Gospel in 40 Readings…

LIVE LENT app…
OR CALL FREEFONE 0800 804 8044

Living Life to the Full Website…

Wellbeing Thought for Saturday 20th February 2021

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Saturday 20 Feb

Habits for physical wellbeing

The key to making progress is establishing healthy habits. Routines and habits – good ones and bad ones – make up around 45 percent of our everyday actions! Small changes can have big effects over time. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear suggests three steps:

  • Reminder (the trigger that initiates the behaviour)
  • Routine (the action you take)
  • Reward (the benefit you get from doing it)

Plan to make a change, based on this principle, for example: put out your running shoes before you go to bed and treat yourself to a hot bath or some nice music or a favourite book or magazine after your run.

Take some time today to review what you’ve learned this week. Which one step could you take in the areas of sleep, diet and exercise?

Wellbeing Thought for Friday 19th February 2021

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Wellbeing thought for Friday 19 Feb
Physical Healing
You may be struggling with a short- or long-term sickness. Sickness was never God’s original intention. The Bible describes our current reality as a ‘fallen world’ that is less than God’s best. One of God’s names is “Yahweh-Rapha”, ‘The Lord is our healer’. One of the remarkable aspects of Jesus’ life was his healing ministry. When he died on the cross he did it to undo all the effects of the Fall, and after the Holy Spirit was poured out on his disciples at Pentecost, Christians continued his healing ministry. We often don’t experience divine healing in this life, but we have the promise that at the resurrection of the dead – when Jesus comes back, we will receive resurrection bodies without sickness!
> Pray this wellbeing prayer from 3 John 2 – for yourself and other people: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

 

Wellbeing Thought for Thursday 18th February 2021

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Thursday 18 Feb

Exercise

We need to be intentional about exercise without falling into the trap of making an idol of our physique. It helps us feel good. It gives increasing levels of energy. We invest in long-term health.

Unlike Elijah, we don’t walk long distances anymore as a necessary part of our daily activities. God prepared him for a spiritual encounter with a long walk!

  • Invest the time (at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week) plus some muscle-strengthening exercise (NHS guideline).
  • Make it fun.
  • Don’t compare.
  • Take small steps.

If you are not motivated to exercise, think about one thing you might enjoy that will get you started.