Have you ever had a hobby or self-care activity that you wanted to do but kept putting off or forgetting to prioritize it? This struggle to prioritize certain behaviors, activities, or hobbies that are in line with your wellness goals doesn’t mean you are lazy or unmotivated, it is actually a symptom of double-mindedness. Meaning you believe two things that contradict each other which makes it difficult for you to commit to the new thing.

The idea of “giving yourself permission” mentioned in the title of this article reflects this internal struggle we have to agree with ourselves in order to make a new decision and move forward confidently. When we host a disagreement with in ourselves it means we are entertaining two lanes of thought simultaneously which causes us to waiver on a line between committing to a new behavior or way of life and falling back into old patterns.

To overcome double-mindedness, it requires you to intentionally organize and reevaluate your beliefs. When we take the time to get clear on our values and clear up our internal conflict we in turn eliminate guilt and stress that comes from putting off the meaningful goal. Maybe it is getting a walk or workout in, maybe its meal-prepping for the week ahead, starting a bible study, making a coffee date with a friend, or enjoying a relaxing hobby.

Suggested Wellness Exercise:

What self-care behavior or hobby do you want to prioritize consistently?
Make a list of positive statements, benefits, and beliefs that support this behavior.
Make a list of negative statements or beliefs that serve obstacles or distractions to your goal behavior.
Share your lists with a trusted friend, spouse, or coach in order to shed light on truth and help overcome negative belief statements.
Come back to your list of positive statements when you need encouragement.

Before you walk through this journaling activity on your own, let’s do a practice round so that you can see some examples of positive and negative belief statements.

An example of a wellness activity that I strive to for in my own life is writing. I love to write and it ties together a personal passion with helpful reflection that supports my mental health. For me, the struggle comes from balancing my love for writing with my duties as a wife, homeschool mother, homemaker, friend, volunteer, etc. I have a beliefs that strongly support that engaging in my writing each week is good for me and my family. I then have another set of beliefs that I use to negotiate with myself and procrastinate my writing.

Belief statements in favor of me prioritizing desired activity (writing):

My writing glorifies God and helps me feel closer to Him.
Writing helps me feel joy and personal satisfaction.
Spending time writing allows me to use my God-given strengths.
My blog help support my family’s financial goals.
I can help encourage others through my writing.

Belief statements that can challenge my willingness to prioritize desired activity (writing):

If my house isn’t spotless then I don’t have time to do things I enjoy.
People will think I am selfish if I prioritize personal hobbies and self-care.
Choosing an activity that feel relaxing means I am being lazy.
I can’t take a break from everyday work or I will fall behind and feel more stressed.
I don’t deserve to do things I want to do, only things that need to be done.

The enemy uses messages we have learned from our past experience and childhood to sabotage our pursuit of God’s purpose for us. This is why we have to learn to filter our thoughts and personal beliefs through a biblical lens. If I take the last five (negative) belief statements and try to back them up through scripture, I would quickly realize these messages are not of God. All five of those statements are laden with guilt and accusation which comes from the enemy of our soul. So how do we achieve self-discipline in the areas of our life that we feel God is calling us toward? How do we prioritize self-care when it seems like we are always in survival mode?

The answer is prayer. When we practice a constant reliance on God and allow him to guide our steps, we will always experience victory with our well-being. Ask God to help give you clarity about what his will for your life and what is important in His kingdom. Ask God to give you let go of beliefs that don’t align with his word and his character. One little affirmative statement I use often to encourage myself is, “I always have time for what’s important.” If my goal aligns with the will of God then “no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31:

Dear God,

Thank you for the gift of your word and your love for me. I am so grateful I can always turn to you when I lack clarity and need your truth and perfect wisdom. Lord, you made me and know me better than anyone. I trust that you have my best interests at heart and that the purpose you have planned for my life is enough. Please help me to stay focused on using the strenghts you have given me and to tune out any guilt or accusations that do not encourage me to follow your will for my life. Please help me to stand strong in faith and to be obedient instead of worrying about what others think of me. Lord I want the posture of my heart and the deeds of my hands to be pleasing to you. As I go about my day, please help me make choices to follow the path you have for me. Help me to practice healthy habits that steward my physical and mental health so that I can be resilient to life’s trials and continue to love and serve the people you have put in my life. Lord you are so holy, gracious, and faithful in every season. Thank you for your perfect love and for never forsaking me, even when I forget to make you the priority in my life. You are so good, Father. Thank you for the gift of your Son. It is in his holy name, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.