Words of Hope: Timeout
My dad loved timeouts. This is not a punishment and it’s unfortunate that this language is connected to punishment. Timeouts are crucial for our health, for taking a step back, and for reevaluating.
In basketball, there are strategic moments to take a timeout. This is an important lesson for life. When momentum is moving in the wrong direction, this is a key time to take a timeout.
How does momentum move in the wrong direction? It is usually because of a fearful mindset, a negative attitude, a string of mistakes, or a difficulty that leads us to frustration rather than curiosity.
What happens in an effective timeout? This is key. A good coach changes the momentum of the game with an opportune timeout.
In life, when we turn to God, we change our trajectory for good. Ignatius gives us crucial timeouts in our day. The first timeout is to spend the morning in prayer and dedicating our day to God.
The evening is a time to pause and consider when we felt closest to God, as well as times we felt farthest from God. These timeouts are instructional, they bring to mind our purpose, they keep us from carrying negative momentum into the next day, they protect us from blind living and reactivity or by being led by impulse.
I am experiencing a timeout right now. I check in to see if I can notice what I am feeling. Less than 15% of people are accurate at understanding what they are feeling.
I consider my words that I have been thinking. What emotions do I carry in my thoughts? How much fear, blame, disappointment, or frustration do I find? How much joy, peace, self-discipline, or gratitude do I find?
Next, I turn to my words and interactions. I invite Jesus to walk through the garden of my words. Did I sow weeds or flowers? What am I contributing with my words, thoughts, and emotions?
Energy is a barometer of health and momentum is the best indication of where our energy is heading. Timeouts allow us space to evaluate if our momentum is heading in the direction God desires for our life.
“He redeems your life from the pit and He crowns you with love and compassion. He has satisfied your life with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:4-5
