Are You Struggling with Mental Exhaustion?

Are you feeling like life doesn’t make sense at times? Are you lacking a balanced life? A life of meaning? Do you feel like you are going through the motions but feeling numb? Alone? Confused? Overwhelmed? Unworthy?

One of the greatest tools and teachings developed for living a fulfilling and balanced life in the health industry is attributed to Dr. Abraham Maslow (Dr. Maslow), an American psychologist. Dr. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is one of the best-known theories of motivation. Maslow's theory is predicated on the belief that our behavior is motivated by the fulfilment of six human needs. Everyone has the same human needs, but not everyone experiences them in the same way or at the same points in our lives. As we walk through life, we find ourselves needing more of one or another. The six human needs are: (1) Certainty, (2) Uncertainty, (3) Significance, (4) Connection, (5) Growth; and (6) Contribution. 

Welcome back to my weekly blog. I always pray asking God to bless me with the right words at the right time. May these words serve to build you up according to your needs, may they benefit all those who read them. 

As I walk you through the six human needs, I’ve taken the liberty to share with you the one true source for living a fulfilling life, the word of God. The bible is the greatest transformational book of all time. It is chuck full of wisdom on living a life we were created to live. Wisdom of Solomon 16:12 reads, ‘No medicine or ointment cured them. They were restored to health by your word, O Lord, the word which heals all humanity.’ I promise it is worth the read, let me show you that you have everything you need in God.

CERTAINTY

It is our natural desire to feel safe, comfortable, secure, stable, protected, at peace. A healthy level of certainty allows us to predict certain necessary safeguards in our life. However, too much certainty can make for a mundane life. How much certainty or uncertainty or what kind of certainty varies from person to person and/or experiences. Our quality of life depends on how well we can adapt to the certainty in our life. We are not meant to know everything, we won’t always know everything, but if we want peace, if we want to avoid mental distress, we must learn to accept. What does Jesus ask of us with respect to certainty? Mark 11:22-24, ‘And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.’ What happens when we lack faith? Hebrews 11:6, ‘And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.’

UNCERTAINTY

As bizarre as it may sound, when we lack uncertainty in our lives, we get bored. Research shows being prone to boredom is a predictor of poor mental health. We all need a bit of mystery in our life for our mental wellbeing. We all need a bit of the unknown; we need to be able to take chances to achieve a sense of accomplishment. How much uncertainty and what kind of uncertainty varies from person to person depending on their experiences and circumstances. Above all, God wants us to have faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7- For we must walk by faith, not by sight. Ecclesiastes 11:4, ‘He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.’ 

SIGNIFICANCE

We all crave the need to feel significant. We want to feel special, wanted, needed in life. The need is so great that we see people competing in all facets of life and at all ages. Growing up, we compete with our siblings, fighting for mom and/or dad’s attention. We find competition in friendships and family, amongst work colleagues, in romantic relationships, in our community with our neighbors. Sometimes it is healthy competition, pushing us to our full potential. However, at times we see it manifest in negative ways, in some cases in very evil acts intended to hurt and/or shun people out driven by our jealousy and insecurities. We convince ourselves we are not worthy when we conform to the patterns of the world, but when we turn off these voices and turn to Christ, you will hear the truth of who you are, how you were created. Ephesians 2:10, ‘For we are his workmanship…’, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, ‘he has chosen you…’, Romans 5:8, ‘…. God demonstrates his own love for you…’, John 15:16, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’

LOVE & CONNECTION

The more we feel love and connected to people, the happier and greater the satisfaction we experience in our personal life. Our need for love and connection starts at the onset of life. Babies need to be cared for and nurtured to survive. As we grow, we need a place to call home, be connected, feel love and a sense of security. We eventually come to desire a romantic love, whether we seek it on our own or find it through an arranged marriage, no matter our culture or way of life, we all crave and need to feel a sense of love, a connection for our own mental wellbeing. Consequently, the absence of love and connection in our lives can have a host of unfavorable consequences detrimentally rooting itself in our choices, lifestyles and even mental wellbeing. When we go back to the source, the one place it will not fail us, we can experience a constant and unconditional love. Where do we find this love? 1 John 4:16, ‘God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.’

GROWTH

When we adopt a growth mindset, we believe that our abilities develop and change over time, improve. In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes that things cannot be better, we cannot achieve, overcome, win, this state of mind yields anxiety and a host of mental health issues, it hinders our progress. This is what the enemy wants you to feel. But what about God? We serve a God that wants to see us grow in Him. Philippians 1:9, ‘I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’ 

CONTRIBUTION

The act of contribution means that we are living out our life's purpose and providing value to other people as we are called to. Life would seem meaningless if we did not pour good into it. Proverbs 13:22, ‘A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.’ 

God has given us what we need, and He has also given us free will, He waits for us to come to the Father. Psalm 121: 1-3, ‘I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep.’ We may not always understand; we may not always know the next step we should take or the way, but our Lord always does. John 14:5-6, When Thomas said to the Lord, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…’. 

I know it seems hard right now if you are feeling exhausted. The Lord is extending His hand to you and calling you to take it, ‘…This is the way, walk in it… (Isaiah 30:21)’. He has gifted us all the wisdom and strength we need. Turn to scripture, find a church, build community in Christ. We cannot give 50% of us and ask for 100% blessing.

I want to leave you with one last message from God, directly to you, and then I want to close in prayer. Matthew 5:14-16, ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.’ I hope you realize you are enough; you are loved; you are a beacon of light ready to shine.

Let us pray, I ask you to take a moment to pray it aloud over yourself. Heavenly Father, I ask You to redeem this soul, this heart, your word says, ‘I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.’ I call to you Lord, ignite the peace within my walls and prosperity within my palaces. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen! 

Together we can foster a place where you will feel heard, supported, and encouraged.  A place you will come to love yourself and bring life and living into focus. If you are ready to meet your potential, I am here for you, click HERE to book your life coaching session(s) today.

Blessings from your life coach and friend, 

 Isabel Plasencia