“Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence” (St. Francis de Sales).

I have been in a new job for almost four months, and I must admit that it has been a more difficult transition than I expected. There have been feelings of overwhelm, confusion, frustration, and sadness at times. Reality has seemed to have fallen short of the great expectations I had set for this new phase of my professional life.

God’s Voice Is Encouraging, Not Accusing

I set high expectations and am hard on myself when I do not meet them (or when I think I have not met them). What’s more, I have the tendency—and perhaps you do as well—to see my life, particularly my work life, through the eyes of others instead of the reality. How often do we jump into a new role, try to do everything perfectly right away, and end up feeling exhausted and stressed? We magnify our mistakes and mess-ups and fear our new colleagues will look down at us and perhaps question how we got this role. Maybe we wonder why we got the role. It can be a disheartening and discouraging feeling.

With all that said, I was recently reminded to give myself some grace—advice that I often find difficult to hear and apply. I told my spiritual director every thought that I have felt and believed over the last few weeks, and, in saying them out loud, I realized how false they were. I saw that listening to these accusations from the Devil was keeping me from being myself and bringing my gifts to the table. My spiritual director gently and lovingly reminded me that God does not accuse; He gently corrects us, and the voice of accusation is not from God.

How much do we need to hear those words in a new job (or in any new experience)? That God, the Father Almighty, corrects with love and gentleness? That we have gifts that are needed at the table in our new workplace—and everywhere we go? That God is asking us to be brave and giving us the strength and courage to do so? My mind went to Mary, who showed us how to be brave in her “yes” to the Lord. Her quiet and gentle “yes” gave birth to the Word Incarnate.

To be brave like Mary, we need moments of quiet. In my last article, I reflected on the importance of a consistent prayer life in seasons of transition. We need to take soul breaks to have those moments of prayer and grace. Taking soul breaks opens our souls and our hearts to run into Mary’s arms and find that bravery that God gave us as His daughters.

3 Soul Break Moments: 

1. Breathe

I hate when people tell me to take a breath. I feel like I tense up more, but it benefits us physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have been trying to breathe a word or phrase in and out to have something to focus on and not tense up.

2. Take a Lunch Break Outside the Office

The other day, I got up from my desk, left the office, and sat outside to eat my lunch. I could feel the difference when I went back to the office: I was recharged and felt lighter. Too often, we do not take lunch breaks, or we eat at our desk. Get up and go somewhere different once in a while. Your mind and soul will thank you. 

3. Go on a Walk

We live in a technology-driven world. The majority of our jobs require a computer and internet. And with remote work, many of us are not always getting up and walking around. But, it is good for us to step away. Some jobs allow their employees to take two 15-minute breaks during the day. Take that 15 minutes to go on a walk. If you do not have 15 minutes, prioritize taking a short walk at some other time in your day.

Sisters, let us run to our mother Mary’s arms and walk bravely in the truth that the accusations that we are not good enough are false.

Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.