6 Ways to Brighten Your Day

Are you feeling BLAH these days? The end of winter can be a tough time to feeling joyful. The days are still cold and dreary in many parts of the country, Lent is dragging on, and we can begin to feel restless and unhappy. This week I am offering 6 ideas for ways to add just a little brightness to your days.



Snippet from the Show

The light of Christ shines in the darkest places.


Shownotes

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.– Romans 8:28




Shownotes

1. Pray with Scripture

Spend some time reading Scripture and allowing God to speak words of hope to you through it. Choose a favorite passage or discover a new one to read carefully (maybe memorize!) and reflect on quietly. What is God saying to you through it?

2. Get some flowers.

Don’t wait around for your husband to bring you flowers. Go get some! Even an inexpensive bouquet you pick up at the grocery store can add light and life to your living spaces.

3. Get more sleep.

We’ve talked about this on the podcast before (see Survival Guide for the Sleep-Deprived and You Need More Sleep!) but you probably are not getting enough sleep. And sleep affects your moods. Pay attention to your bedtimes and waking times and see if there is some way you can get more rest.

4. Add some music.

What kind of music do you enjoy? What inspires you and lifts your mood? Look for ways that you can add more music to your days in unexpected ways, with praise and worship songs as you do dishes or with an impromptu dance party with the kids.

5. Clean something.

De-clutter or thoroughly clean a space you see every day. It will refresh your spirit, give you a sense of accomplishment, and boost your mood every time you see it.

6. Connect

Whether it’s giving your kids more hugs or calling a girlfriend you have fallen out of touch with, we all need human connection in our lives. Think of some ways you might be feeling disconnected these days and then take steps to re-connect. With a phone call, coffee date, or a hug in the kitchen.

At the end of today’s show, I share my response to listener Julie who wonders about how to manage her frequent mood swings. Do you have a question you would like me to take up, or some advice to share? Please email me!

In this show, I also mention the one-year anniversary of my book, Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood, a book in which I share from my heart about the very real changes, challenges, triumphs, and joys of being a mom in an “emptying nest.” You can read that sample chapter at Ave Maria Press. (Use the coupon code BEAN20 to get 20% off your order!)

My book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. 

Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you!

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Megan Madden

Megan Madden is a homeschooling mother with a passion for writing and speaking on authentic femininity and virtuous womanhood. In 2017, she began graduate studies in marriage and family at the International Theological Institute in Austria. After moving to Kraków, Poland to work with university students, Megan more personally continued her research on the complementarity of man and woman, particularly on the question of what it means to be a woman. She delved into the study of renowned Catholic writers on women such as St. Edith Stein, Gertrude von le Fort, Alice von Hildebrand, St. John Paul II, and St. Teresa of Avila.

The results were the development of Megan’s online ministry A Mother’s Lace, as well as speaking opportunities and her book with Ascension: Mary, Teach Me to Be Your Daughter.

Megan lives outside of Oxford, England with her husband, who is a lecturer in theology, and their five children.

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