What do you think of when you hear the word “renew?”  Your Netflix subscription?  A weekend at a spa?  Songs or prayers about the Holy Spirit?

Last month, I shared about “How to Start Practicing Rest.”  This month, I’d like to dive into “renew,” the second of three R’s that bring balance and centeredness to our lives.  In The REALIFE Process, the three R’s are Rest, Renew, and Review, and it’s by integrating these practices into our lives that we’re able to sustain a way of living that is both aligned with our real selves and effectively productive. 

Let’s start by distinguishing rest from renewal.  These two terms are so often used as a pair that it can be hard to define them separately.  (After all, who doesn’t love some R&R?!)  However, while I think these two are complementary, I also think there is a difference.  Rest replenishes our energy.  Activities that renew us generate energy, usually new or different energy.  Renewal often involves a different environment from our norm, and it typically engages our brains differently than the usual activities of our days. 

What might be renewing for you?  What would give you renewed energy and get your brain and/or body doing something different?

As you ponder that question, I encourage you not to compare.  If renewal is a new concept for you and you are a little stumped, you might seek ideas from others… but beware:  What’s renewing for one person is not necessarily renewing for another.  For instance, scrapbooking or crafting is a great way for some people to renew.  For me, it’s a stress-inducer. 

When thinking about ways to renew, it can be helpful to think about opposites or balancing.  For example, since I spend most of my days on my own, working from home as a solopreneur, doing something with other people is renewing for me.  If your days are surrounded by people, you might prefer more solitary renewal activities.  My days are also typically spent indoors, engaging my brain.  So I can often appreciate renewal that is outdoors or that helps me connect with my emotions or body.

I hope that sharing these thoughts about renewal doesn’t dump more “shoulds” on you.  The three R’s are invitations, not dictates!  For me, renew gives some “breathing room” in my week and provides needed balance.  Yes, I need to make the time for it – and that can be a challenge some weeks! – but when I do, I notice that I feel like I am “living better” in those weeks.  I notice a difference in the energy of my week.  (More about that when we get to Review next month!)  If I skip renew for the sake of “productivity,” I usually end up feeling wrung out, and in the end, I’m less productive and certainly less happy with how I’m showing up in the world and in my relationships.

If you’re wondering how to get started with renewal, here’s three steps.  (Yes, it’s the same process I suggested for how to start practicing rest.) 

1)     Create a mind map about “renew.”

2)    Experiment!

3)    Create an “I am” statement about renewal in your life.

(More details about these steps here…) 

Remember that just like rest, renewal is a practice.  And just like anything that we practice, we gradually grow in our ability and commitment.  So if you’re not really spending any time in renewal these days, that’s OK.  Just commit to starting, and start small.  Give yourself a taste of what it feels like to experience renewal.  Notice what it feels like and what it does for you.  Then decide what you want to do with that information.  Keep going with that activity, or try something different?  There are no rules.  Give yourself the grace to try new things and to seek joy and pleasure. 

Renewal for me is a work in progress.  I started small.  It began with reading.  I’ve kept reading, but I’ve felt the need to engage in more social activities, so I’ve been prioritizing time with friends, sharing meals or coffee, or playing cards.  As I’ve seen the benefits – my life feels more “whole” – I’ve committed more.  I’m pondering some new things on the horizon – perhaps reconnecting with my old love of theatre and getting involved in local productions, perhaps inching closer to that “bucket list” wish of learning to play the drums.  We’ll see.  I don’t put any pressure on myself about renewal – that would ruin it!  Instead, it’s an area of life that I notice, stay curious about, and allow to evolve.   

What do you do to renew yourself? 

If you struggle to answer that question, what activity might bring you some different or refreshing energy?  When can you experiment with that activity this week?

Summer can be a great time of year to try something new and carve out some time for renewal, so I hope you’ll take advantage of this season and allow yourself to be surprised by renewal!