She Heard
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • What We Believe
    • Create With Us!
    • Contact
    • Partner With Me!
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Quarterly Subscription

When Your Margins Need Adjusting (And "When Treetops Glisten" Winner Announced)

12/19/2014

Comments

 
Picture
I (Melissa) love when something from my “everyday” teaches a life lesson. Today, it’s a Word document.

If you’ve ever created something using a word processing program, then you probably know a thing or two about margins. Regardless of which program you use, there are “default” margins set, designed to create the right amount of white space around your words; to make it more legible; to give those words some room to breath so that the ideas can be fully understood when read.

But I have a little confession to make. I like to push the margins on my documents – squeeze out a little more space here and there. You know, half-an-inch on the top, a quarter-inch on the sides. Whatever I need to make sure that everything I want to say fits on the page.

Here’s the interesting thing, though. When you squeeze the margins and attempt to print the document, you immediately receive a warning message: “It appears that there is text outside of the allowed margins. Do you wish to proceed with printing?” And there it is. The printer is keeping me in check – reminding me that I am trying to squeeze too much onto one page.

So now I have another little confession to make. I not only push the margins on my documents, but I find that, many times, I’m pushing the margins in my own life, trying to fit too much in one day, one week, one month. 

And just like my printer warns me to keep my documents from becoming too crowded, there are warnings that pop up in an attempt to keep me in check in my day-to-day. Signs that I am taking on too much, trying to do, be, accomplish more than is possible.

What are some of the warning messages that I get when my margins are being pushed too far?
  • I become annoyed with my 7-year-old when he wakes up earlier than I want him to because that means I can’t get the rest of MY things done.
  • I look at a to-do list and feel my eyes well up with tears because I don’t even know where to start in order to get it all done.
  • I break promises (usually to my husband or to my kids) because something else came up that I felt needed to be done first or because I simply ran out of time.

I’m sad to admit that in this week alone, I’ve received every single one of those warning messages.

In Monday’s devotional, I talked about my desire to pursue more solitude, just like Jesus did. And getting my margins in check is the first step. So I’m putting a few strategies in place to help readjust my margins.

#1: Take it to God. I’ve been praying for help in opening up my schedule, for a way to find more time in my day and/or use my time more efficiently. Of course, for the past few days I’ve been waking up at 5:30 a.m. No alarm needed. And I’m talking wide-awake! Looks like my next step is to look at this “extra” time as a gift and embrace it!

#2: Make real priorities my priority. I’ve heard it said time and time again that if everything is important, nothing is important. I’m beginning to understand that one of my weaknesses is making everything important and, as a result, I’m missing out on some of the things that I love the most. More importantly, I’m missing out on the things that God wants me to embrace. When I catch myself saying things like, “I would love to do {X}, but just can’t find the time,” I know that it’s time to re-examine what things ARE taking up the bulk of my time and making sure that they are TRUE priorities for both me and for God.

#3: Let go of the idea that I have to do it all. I put up fewer Christmas decorations this year than I have in past years. But the ones that I did include in our home fit beautifully. They have room to breathe, to be seen (just like those words on the page that fit within those default margins) and my family is enjoying them just as they have the excess in past years. I need to use this as a reminder that “more” isn’t always better. Many times, I’m the only one who notices the “more.”

I’ll be the first to admit that while none of these steps are easy, they are all necessary if I am truly going to increase those beautiful moments of white space. That's why I'm committing to cleaning up my page. Perhaps a New Year's Resolution in the making? However I approach it though, it will be an ongoing process. So I’ll take it a little bit at a time … maybe in half-inch increments!

What about you? What are your strategies for readjusting your margins and creating more white space in your lives? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

***The winner of the From Treetops Glisten book giveaway is: Charissa Skelton! Charissa, your comment was selected using Random.org. Congrats! Please email deliberatewomen@gmail.com with your mailing address within 24 hours! Thank you all who read and entered!***

Comments

    RSS Feed

    This space is reserved for Founder Mandy's perspectives and viewpoints of Scripture. Man is fallible, but God is not. It's strongly encouraged that you study the Scripture for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding. 

    Deliberate Women posts are archived below.

    Archives

    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

About
Contact

​Careers
What we Believe
Magazine
​Shop
© 2020 She Heard/Mandy Pagano. All Rights Reserved.
She Heard/Mandy Pagano makes no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided therein, and will not be liable to you in relation to the contents of or use of this website for any indirect, special or consequential loss. Nothing on this website constitutes or is meant to constitute advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any legal, financial, medical or psychological matter, you should consult an appropriate professional.

​
DALLAS, TEXAS
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • What We Believe
    • Create With Us!
    • Contact
    • Partner With Me!
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Quarterly Subscription