Refresh Others and You'll Be Refreshed, It's a Promise!

 Is it possible to say no to stress, and just live a relaxed life? A life without rush...without worry?

I have been exploring this question for a while now.  In my pursuit to freeing myself from stress, I've been contemplating the possibility of enacting in my life the idea that: "you can't always change your circumstances; but you can change your perspective."  But I have to admit, I'm still struggling to accomplish it fully.  Perhaps it is because my personality doesn't lend itself for a "just chill" attitude.  I'm a natural born overreactor, and my default is to panic.  The summer book chat, where we read Holy Hygge. Creating a place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson, allowed me to take a few small steps forward in the direction of changing the perspective from which I see things...and for that I am very grateful.

The book does not contain a magic formula, a secret recipe, a 5-easy-steps to a stress-free life or anything like that, but it helped me understand that maybe, a way to break the chain of worry and stress is by focusing on Jesus and on His people, rather than on myself.

The author points out how the concept of holy hygge derives from a desire to create community, invite closeness, build well-being, and celebrate the everyday (p. 15) as we open ourselves to the body of Christ so we can share our burdens, and encourage one another.  After all, Scripture commands us to do just that:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Philippians 2:3-4 — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Proverbs 27:17 - “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.

Proverbs 11: 25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Look at the last verse again, Proverbs 11: 25b...whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  That is a promise, my dear! That refreshing we are so desperately seeking, is contained in the act of refreshing others along the way.  By giving of ourselves we find the abundant life, just as Jesus gave it all, to pay it all.

Like the author says, practicing hygge from a Christian perspective may help us set our gaze in the right direction, and offer practical application to what we learn in Scripture...a kind of companion for making a home where people can feel their way toward God and find Him...a physical tool that reflects our spiritual life and invites others into a relationship with Christ. (p. 18)

The concepts in the book Holy Hygge will not magically allow me to free myself from stress so I can live a chilled life.  But I'm sure that by helping me forget about me, and setting my gaze on others as I grow closer to Jesus, will, definitely allow me that change of perspective that I've been looking for all my life.

What practical changes and real steps might you make/take in your life to help you become an encourager who refreshes others?