{"id":7040174,"date":"2026-08-17T02:43:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T02:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/the-secret-to-staying-calm-in-motherhood-and-beyond-maggie-whitley-designs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T02:43:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T02:43:08","slug":"the-secret-to-staying-calm-in-motherhood-and-beyond-maggie-whitley-designs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7040174","title":{"rendered":"The Secret to Staying Calm (in Motherhood and Beyond) \u2013 Maggie Whitley Designs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u201cWhat\u2019s your secret to staying calm while raising five young children?\u201d<\/em> she asks.<\/p>\n

She basically puts her hand on my shoulder to stop me from walking away from her in passing.<\/p>\n

No, really?<\/em> Her eyes ask the question loudly.<\/p>\n

I want to tell her it\u2019s the whole \u201cgoing to bed around 9pm\u201d thing, that if I can just get enough sleep, I\u2019ll be rested enough to be happy the next morning. And a lot of the time, I do say this to other moms when they ask for \u201cmy secret.\u201d I want them to know it\u2019s important we get our rest<\/em>, just like the mothers who have gone before us try to press upon us. Rest is necessary (see Mark 22:27).<\/p>\n

Sister, <\/em>I say to her, why don\u2019t you lie down while the baby naps?<\/em> (Sometimes we aim to do too much, all in good efforts, yet at the expense of our physical & mental capacities.)<\/p>\n

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Rest is more than just taking a nap; it\u2019s knowing when to slow down and seek heavenly things.<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I mean, I napped daily for about 5 years. Naps are so life-giving for me mentally. Can you relate? One time, my OB said a mother not getting enough sleep was a form of mistreatment to her body. And after hearing that, I ran with it . . . Naps for everyone, including mama!<\/em><\/p>\n

But more than snuggling down for a daily nap, it\u2019s also that I\u2019ve fully submerged myself in Christ.<\/strong> This has been a practice I began to prioritize a couple of years ago. So, it\u2019s a little new for me, too, but the fruit of it is strong \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n

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How to slow down & seek calm:<\/h5>\n
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Begin by cultivating neighboring friendships. Your local church, library, and community center are great places to start. Better yet, ask the LORD to bring you a good friend!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Listen to music that encourages your walk with the Lord. I personally enjoy Jamie MacDonald (full of soul),
Alan Gogoll (instrumental), and Shane & Shane (harmonics galore!).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Keep books nearby that are full of scripture, like the Bible \ud83d\ude09 and then prioritize time for study<\/a> each day. One of my favorite tips: keep your Bible on a cake stand in the kitchen to avoid spills!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Have an eagerness to serve your community. Join others in doing good for the sake of loving your neighbor.<\/em> Don\u2019t know where to start? Begin with what feels natural to you: what doesn\u2019t feel like \u201cwork\u201d? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Desire to learn new things. Have I mentioned my love of reading<\/a>, even while in the thick of motherhood? Book reading can be a wonderful way to calm your mind and step away from technology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We need to put down our phones and instead choose to fill our hands with creative projects. As adults, we need to allow ourselves to be bored, time to create, to seek what really matters. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When my hands and heart are grasping for something, it helps to have something worthy of my grasp.<\/strong> I mean \u2013 really, it\u2019s all God working in me, but I think it helps to have a tender heart toward change.<\/p>\n

Sure, it\u2019s the \u201cearly to bed\u201d concept \u2013 that definitely helps, but it\u2019s also allowing myself to settle into the role I have been called to as a woman (wife, mother, and\/or friend). I don\u2019t hide that it\u2019s hard; I do want to highlight the beauty that comes from rest and seeking the LORD.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A friend shared a really practical way to stay connected to the Lord. In order to pray without ceasing, simply add \u201cGod\u201d before every thought.<\/p>\n

6 powerful & effective prayers:<\/h2>\n