Spread Too Thin - The Disappearing Act (Part Quatre)

Spread Too Thin - The Disappearing Act (Part Quatre)

An unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates

THE LAST PHASE of cocooning for me, once my dreams are well documented, is the planning stage. I develop a three-step plan for each of my dreams as a way to begin bringing them to fruition. While some people might write detailed journals that rival a Harvard business plan, I opt for an easy, 1-2-3 outline of the next steps I need to take. These action plans aren’t always actionable; sometimes they will sit idle for years at a time.

After my planning, it’s time to rededicate my life and soul. I give my dreams over to God, thanking him for the opportunity to play a role in his master plan. I now realize that this time of prayer and rededication is the point of the cocooning.

Interestingly, this culmination of the cocooning process came as a surprise to me. I couldn’t have articulated my purpose in taking such a luxurious extended break from work, but today I know I was looking for rededication even more than rest or renewal.

During the first twenty-one days of this retreat, I made a new commitment to my spiritual growth and development; I am more deeply committed than ever to my husband and my precious family; and I look forward to new and wonderful adventures in my professional life. I have to be honest with you—it had been a couple of years since I had last rededicated my mind, body, and soul to higher purposes.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

I know that not everyone can enjoy a thirty-day hiatus from work. I’ve been a professional for over twenty years, and this was a first for me. But I do know that you can choose to take a couple of days (no, you can’t do this while visiting Disneyland with the family) to consider mastering the three Rs of rest, renewal, and rededication.