We have talked alot about rhythms this month. I have said it before, it was one of my favorite chapters to write in my book Not Yet. In that chapter, I talk about rhythms that have worked in my life. These rhythms are simple practices that I try to keep at the front of my mind as I plan my day.
These rhythms keep me grounded.
These rhythms keep me in God’s presence.
These rhythms are key to my mental health.
I have been working on a list of rhythms that I think would be helpful for families. It’s not a complete list-just a little something I have been working on for my next book. One of the benefits of our Goby community is that we get to connect together as we swim upstream in the highs and lows of life. I also get a chance to share ideas with you as I work through them!
I think that families have the unique opportunity to help kids develop best practices when it comes to creating rhythms or rituals. I think the word rituals can get a bad wrap sometimes-but rituals are simply things we do again and again. Activities that are repetitive and provide meaning to who we are and what we do as a family. If you or someone in your family struggles with anxiety or depression, rituals can be a very helpful practice. The routine of the rhythm of rituals can ground us and guide us. They can help us stay aligned with God and His hand in our lives.
- The Forty I Ams:
The Forty I Ams are my most valued exercise. When I was at a very low point in my life, the routine of writing them out, repeating them, committing them to memory, saying them over and over again reminds me of who God says I am and who God is in my life. You can print a copy for yourself here. Grab some notebook paper or notecards. Find a journal-anything works really. Check out our Resource Page. We have created different formats for you to choose from. We have created resources for you and for your kids as well!
- Thankfulness:
Set aside time each day to share what you are thankful for. It may be a journal that you keep as a family. Maybe you complete it before dinner. Maybe you complete it in the carline. Find time each day to make note of what you are thankful for. When we operate from a heart of gratitude, when we thank God for all that we have in our lives because of Him, our hearts shift. Our minds will focus more on what we have rather than what we don’t have.
- Generosity:
Living a life with a generous heart begins early on in a kid’s life. You can show multiple examples of how to live generously throughout your life each and every day. Look for opportunities to show your kids how your family can be generous with your time, with what you have, with how you spend energy. Generosity is about more than just money. It is about putting others first, treating others with respect-how we want to be treated. Creating a rhythm of generosity for your family will be a practice that proves to be incredibly beneficial for many reasons. When I find myself struggling with my anxiety or I find myself struggling, I can tend to become inward focused. Generosity helps me keep my eyes off of myself and more focused on others.
I would love to hear how these practices work for you! Spend some time putting these into practice and then let me know how they work for you. You can comment below and share how these rituals have impacted your life and the life of your family.
Learning with you,
Toby
PS. Click here for a copy of the 40 I Ams.