She was always the one checking in.
Holding space.
Making sure everyone else was okay.
Holding space.
Making sure everyone else was okay.
But somewhere along the way,
she forgot to ask herself the same.
she forgot to ask herself the same.
Now, she’s learning to pause.
To breathe.
To gently ask,
“What do I need today?”
To breathe.
To gently ask,
“What do I need today?”
And that one simple question—
that moment of turning inward—
that moment of turning inward—
is starting to heal years of quiet neglect,
and the ache of a love
she needed but never received.
This is how she comes home to herself.
One tender ask at a time.
One tender ask at a time.
The way we think directly impacts the way we live. That might sound overwhelming, but it’s actually full of hope. Because while we may not catch every single thought flying through our heads on a crazy day, we can catch just one—and that one can change everything.
So what’s the thought that can interrupt the noise and reroute the spiral?
I have a choice.
When your mind is spinning in distraction, you have a choice: to slow down and return to stillness with God.
When you feel isolated, you have a choice: to lean into community, even if it feels vulnerable.
When anxiety creeps in, you have a choice: to place your trust in His good and sovereign plan.
When cynicism tries to harden your heart, you have a choice: to turn up the worship and soften in His presence.
When pride tries to take the lead, you have a choice: to humble yourself and remember who’s really in charge.
When victimhood whispers lies, you have a choice: to lift your eyes in gratitude for what’s still true.
When complacency settles in, you have a choice: to step out in service and live on mission.
If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, this isn’t just willpower—it’s Spirit-empowered. You’ve been made new. That means you’re not a slave to your thoughts, your past, your emotions, or your circumstances.
We have been given the ability to choose a new way of thinking. And when you do, it’s not just spiritual—it’s physical. Your brain literally rewires. New thoughts = new paths. New freedom. New joy.
You’re not stuck. You’re not too far gone. You have a choice.
And it starts now.
If my toddler throws a fit in the grocery store, I step in and redirect him. But how often do we let our thoughts throw full-blown tantrums—unchecked and unchallenged?
Paul reminds us that we can take our thoughts captive. We actually have power over what we think about—and when we lean into that, strongholds start to crumble.
Romans 8:5 says those who live by the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Lately, I’ve been sitting with that. What would it look like to truly have a mind fixed on the Spirit? One that chooses peace. Life. Truth.
It’s not always easy, but I’m learning to interrupt the spirals. To pause. To shift. To realign my thoughts with what’s true and good. I don’t do it perfectly—but I am seeing growth.
With time and practice, taking our thoughts captive becomes less of a struggle and more of a reflex. That’s the goal: to default to the Spirit instead of the flesh. To retrain our minds—on purpose—until we begin to think like Jesus.
Learning to capture our thoughts matters.
Why?
Because how we think shapes how we live.
Why?
Because how we think shapes how we live.
Lies like I’m helpless, I’m worthless, I’m unlovable don’t just sit quietly in the back of our minds.
They shape our emotions.
They affect how we respond to the world around us.
They trap us in a cycle of distortion, distraction, and pain—keeping us from recognizing the truth we should believe.
They shape our emotions.
They affect how we respond to the world around us.
They trap us in a cycle of distortion, distraction, and pain—keeping us from recognizing the truth we should believe.
Most dangerously?
They change how we view God.
They change how we view God.
Every lie we believe about ourselves is rooted in a belief we hold about Him.
Let’s say I often feel worthless or invisible.
Then I read Ephesians 1 and learn that because of His deep love, God chooses me and loves me.
And while I might nod at that truth, I don’t really absorb it.
I don’t let it reshape my identity.
Then I read Ephesians 1 and learn that because of His deep love, God chooses me and loves me.
And while I might nod at that truth, I don’t really absorb it.
I don’t let it reshape my identity.
Now imagine I’m married to someone who’s often distracted by work. I don’t feel seen in the relationship—and it confirms my inner fear: I really am worthless and invisible.
So when something small happens—he’s short with me or forgets something important—I start to spiral.
I can’t empathize with his stress.
My needs feel unmet.
And eventually, we’re fighting constantly, and we don’t even know why.
I can’t empathize with his stress.
My needs feel unmet.
And eventually, we’re fighting constantly, and we don’t even know why.
He becomes the enemy in my mind.
No matter what he says, it’s never enough.
My thoughts have taken over, twisted the truth, and robbed me of peace.
No matter what he says, it’s never enough.
My thoughts have taken over, twisted the truth, and robbed me of peace.
Until I confront that lie—that God’s love isn’t really for me—my emotions, decisions, and relationships will continue to be shaped by a belief that simply isn’t true. Because, His love is for me!!
But here’s the good news:
When we start to think about our thoughts, we can stop the spiral.
We can pause.
Reset.
Redirect.
And make room for the truth of God’s love to anchor us.
We can pause.
Reset.
Redirect.
And make room for the truth of God’s love to anchor us.
Not by wrestling every fear to the ground—but by allowing God to take up so much space in our thinking that our fears shrink by comparison.
Have you ever been part of something so powerful—so full of energy and emotion—that you weren’t even there in person, yet still woke up the next morning feeling totally drained?
That’s me today.
I’ve been attending the Young Living New Heights Convention virtually this year, and while I may not be in the room physically, the energy has been electric. The stories, the breakthroughs, the inspiration… I felt it all.
And today? I believe I’m feeling the ripple effect: an emotional hangover.
💥 No alcohol.
💥 No late night or wild night out.
💥 Just a full heart + a tired nervous system.
💥 No late night or wild night out.
💥 Just a full heart + a tired nervous system.
Emotional hangovers are a thing. They're what happens when your heart experiences more than your body can process in the moment. And it's OK. (more details found below)
Today I’m resting, hydrating, and diffusing something grounding—probably Frankincense, Peace & Calming, or StressAway. Just kind of letting my body and spirit catch up.
If you're feeling it too—you're not alone. 💛 Be gentle with yourself.
An emotional hangover is how a person can feel after an intense emotional experience — even if it’s positive!! It’s that lingering fog, fatigue, irritability, or emotional sensitivity that doesn’t quite match the current moment, because your body and mind are still processing what already happened.
Common Symptoms of an Emotional Hangover:
- 💭 Mental fog or difficulty concentrating
- 😩 Exhaustion or low energy
- 😶 Numbness or emotional flatness
- 😢 Unexpected teariness or mood swings
- 🙅♀️ Avoidance of social interaction
- 💤 Sleep disturbances (too much or too little)
- 🍕 Cravings or appetite changes
Causes:
You can feel emotionally hungover after things like:
- Big events (a wedding, a funeral, a family reunion)
- Hard conversations or conflict
- Receiving difficult news
- Public speaking or vulnerability
- Energetic or overstimulating days (yes, even amazing ones)
Why it Happens:
Emotions, especially intense ones, activate your nervous system. Hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and even dopamine flood your body — and just like with alcohol, there’s a recovery period as your system rebalances.
How to Support Yourself:
🧘♀️ Rest + Regulation
Give your nervous system a break. Gentle yoga, breathing exercises, or a slow walk can help reset.
Give your nervous system a break. Gentle yoga, breathing exercises, or a slow walk can help reset.
🌿 Nourish + Hydrate
You may not feel hungry, but whole foods, herbal teas, and water can help replenish what’s been depleted.
You may not feel hungry, but whole foods, herbal teas, and water can help replenish what’s been depleted.
📵 Take a Break from Input
Screens, noise, and social media can feel like too much. It’s okay to unplug.
Screens, noise, and social media can feel like too much. It’s okay to unplug.
🛁 Ground Yourself
Take a bath, diffuse calming oils (like Lavender, Frankincense, or Peace & Calming), and create physical comfort.
Take a bath, diffuse calming oils (like Lavender, Frankincense, or Peace & Calming), and create physical comfort.
📝 Process It
Journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or simply naming the emotions you felt can help your brain file the experience away.
Journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or simply naming the emotions you felt can help your brain file the experience away.
P.S. It’s Normal
An emotional hangover doesn’t mean you’re weak, too sensitive, or doing life wrong. It means you felt deeply — and that takes real strength.
