I’ve been reading “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” by Richard Carlson AGAIN!  Over the years I’ve read so many of his “Don’t Sweat” books that I should never need deodorant again!

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff…….
1)  And It’s All Small Stuff
2)  At Work
3)  In Love
4)  About Money
5)  With Family

You would think I would have it all figured out and be the most layed back, calm, peaceful, relaxed person you could think of.  BUT NO!  I tend to try to fit one more thing into my day.  I try to get the to-do list completely marked off.  I run around like a chicken with my head cut off doing all kinds of stuff and end up really sweating!!!

One of the chapters in the first Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book is titled Repeat to Yourself, “Life Isn’t an Emergency”.

But I realized how much we do treat life as one great big emergency sometimes.  We see how much we can fit into our day because we might not have another day to get all the laundry done or the garage cleaned out.  We set ourselves up to act like everything is an emergency when we strive for perfection and when we cram so much on our to-do list.  Goals are good. But we need to make them realistic.  Think about who you are doing all this stuff for.  If for you, your family, God and the good of a purpose, then maybe it’s okay.  But if you’re doing it to keep up with other people or because you want to be perfect, and you want people to say “I don’t know how you do it all” then give it up and quit sweating!

We need to ask ourselves:  “will this matter a year from now?”

Another question that we need to ask ourselves when faced with prioritizing things:  “Will this make a difference to the Kingdom of God?”

I think being relaxed and not always being in a rush and a hurry IS DO-ABLE!  I think we can achieve it.  We just need to reprioritize and ask ourselves the two questions.  Sometimes the answer is “YES this will matter a year from now.”  Then do it!

Sometimes the answer is “NO this will not make a difference to the Kingdom of God”.  Then decide if you need to do it – and maybe you do and maybe you don’t.  Sometimes the answer is “YES this will make a difference to the Kingdom of God”.  Then by all means, do it!

But what I’m saying is if you are thinking about ways to slow down and not treat life as if it is one great big emergency, then start by asking those two questions.  It really makes you think, prioritize and slow down.

Stop pretending like you just called 911.  Stop acting like Peyton Manning is getting ready to come over to your house and it has to be perfect.    Start thinking about ways to make a difference to PEOPLE and for the KINGDOM OF GOD.

The good news is I know that we can get to that place of not sweating the small stuff.  But if we don’t quit treating life as one big emergency, then we WILL be calling 911 for a serious health issue.

Let’s vow together to enjoy the day………..one day at a time…………no sweating……….no emergency……..no hyperventilating………..just breathe, smile, and relax!!  Say it with me “LIFE ISN’T AN EMERGENCY”.  One more time:  “LIFE ISN’T AN EMERGENCY”.

Very good………..have a great sweat-free day!