Happy Friday Reader,

Resending Monday's Email in case you missed it!

We are headed into the weekend and I would like you to take a moment and think of what comes to mind when you hear the word busy?

Is it a to-do list that keeps growing?

The pile of papers you leave on your work desk?

Cooking dinner while holding the phone in one hand to respond to a friend while yelling, 'stop' to your teenager who is annoying his younger siblings for the millionth time?

Does any of this seem familiar? This is a typical day in my world but I know I am not alone.

I want to let you know that whatever the myriad of tasks are that has caused you to fall in the category of busy, we are going to redefine the problem so that we can recognize the solution today.

Last week I shared with you how I have chosen to stop using the word busy as a way to describe the season of life I am in. This week, I am inviting you into a deeper conversation regarding how to better describe your schedule and life responsibilities.

Take another moment and visualize your Thanksgiving or Christmas plate. This is a judgement-free email so no worries. Mine is usually a large plate overflowing with delicious, tasty, good food that I tend to only consume once, maybe twice a year. Now back to your plate. As you begin to indulge in the food one bite at a time, the plate becomes emptier and your stomach gets fuller. You have now exchanged a full plate for a full stomach. It is at that moment that you realize that no matter how good the food is, no matter where it is (on the plate or in your stomach) it is simply too much.

I know you are probably thinking, what does this have to do with being busy. Everything my friend! That plate represents your busy life. Your choice to fill it up to overflowing or portion it out determines how you will feel in the end.

The full plate looks amazing but when it becomes a full stomach, it doesn't always feel so great. That, my friend, is what busy looks and feels like. Every yes is another item of food added to the plate that will have to be consumed into your already full stomach.

Here has been my secret to going from a busy life to a better life, changing the terminology from "I am busy," to "My plate is full." It's that simple. This visualization has helped me to take better inventory of my commitments, time, and responsibilities. I consider what needs to be on my plate and what needs to be removed so that I can enjoy the experience of life.

When people say, 'Rachel you’re so busy' I correct them and say, 'Well my plate is a bit full right now but I'm removing things slowly but surely.' Or if they say, 'I know you're busy but...' I will respond by saying, 'Let me see what's on my plate.' Busy doesn't give me the visual I need to really pause and take everything into consideration.

Sure I've had some tough conversations and said 'no' to things I really wanted to say 'yes' to, but when I think of the damage I was doing to the best version of myself by not taking inventory of what was on my plate and constantly adding more items, I knew it was worth it.

Some of you have been wondering for some time how to stop the roller coaster of busyness. You've tried so many other things but today I want to invite you to try changing your Perspective. Perspective is one of the most powerful things God has given us to help us embrace the life he wants us to have. This is why the bible tells us, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Psalms 23:7). This scripture is all about perspective.

Reader , It's been said that if you change your perspective you can change your life, so what are you waiting for. It's time.

This week I want you to start taking inventory of what is on your plate. Consider what should be there but isn't and what shouldn't be there but is. Also, consider what needs to remain on the plate. Next week we will work through some things you can do so that you can live better and not busy. If you find that the wording I use feels odd, choose something else. The goal is that whatever you choose to use in place of the word busy is symbolic of how you can take inventory of your commitments, time and responsibilities.

Have a Blessed Week!

Rachel Scott

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P.s. There is still time to join us in reading this months book. Text the word Book Club to me HERE and hop right in. We're reading the book Soundtracks by Jon Acuff for the month of May and June and we will have two book buddy connection calls. Hope you will join us!