White Space

Have you ever looked at a website, billboard ad, or brochure and became overwhelmed just looking at it? You might have said to yourself "Whoa, too busy! I don't event want to look at this for one more second"? Yikes!

That my friends is someone likely trying to cram a novel's worth of information onto a single page or layout. And you know what, at some level, most of us are guilty of this too. How you ask? By trying to cram forty hours of "stuff" into a twenty-four hour day.

We all do it, but for several different reasons:

• Maybe it feels so good to check those boxes off that mile long to-do list?

• Maybe it helps us feel more important or more valued?

• Maybe we believe that this is "the way it's supposed to be" - putting everyone else first (and yourself on the bottom of that priority list)?

• Maybe we feel life as we know it may fall apart if we don't do "x, y, or z"?

No matter what your reason, I want you to entertain the idea that it doesn't have to be this way. No really- we do not have to feel like a circus monkey entertaining the crowd by throwing flame darts while riding a unicycle. I give you permission to write yourself a prescription for "white space" (but please don't write yourself any other prescriptions, let your doctor do that).

What is "White Space"?

White space is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the areas of a page without print or pictures". If we put this into context of our lives, think of white space as all of the unplanned, unstructured, unwritten time we have in a single day.

You know why we love vacations and lazy days so much = extra white space! No seriously, our brains love taking a break from the realities of life and going to a place where there are minimal obligations, pressures, or expectations.

As children we naturally have tons of white space. This white space is what allows children's imaginations and creativity to soar. This is where all the magic, dreams, and fearlessness happens. These are the childhood memory makers - when times were seemingly simpler and we felt so alive and free.

As we grow into adulthood this white space unfortunately begins to dwindle. We begin to fill our days with tasks, assignments, projects, jobs, chores, responsibilities, obligations, and the list goes on. But this just isn't the way it has to be... we have the authority and power to take back our white space!

How to Get Your "White Space" Back?

In her book "The Joy of Missing Out" Tanya Dalton says "white space is where ideas, innovation, and ideals are born and nurtured". If we want this in our own lives, we have to learn the power of "yes" and equally the power of "no".

Tanya reminds us that every time we say "yes" to something (a favor, a request, or an invitation) we are also saying "no" to something else (rest, working out, free time, or time with your spouse, kids, or best friend). We have to learn to say "yes" to the things we truly desire and "no" to the things we don't.

I know, I know, I know - much easier said than done. But if we are struggling to say "no" to the things we don't truly desire for ourselves, we really need to examine why that is. Is there some shame or guilt that needs processing? Do we have some bad habits or expectations that need to be reset? Are our priorities just not well-defined? Do we need some support in setting (or resetting) healthy boundaries? Or maybe we haven't even given ourselves enough white space to even process why we say "yes" to so many things we really shouldn't?

Whatever your reason may be - I pray that you dig deep and find that fire in your belly again. I pray that you can start processing with a close friend. Because one of my favorite benefits of white space - this is where God likes to talk to us the most! This is where our mind is most free, our soul is at rest, and our heart is most open to hear his still small voice, feel his gentle nudges, and learn his infinite wisdom. In Matthew 19:14 we hear Jesus say “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” God wants us to have this white space, to become like children again, so alive and free. I believe our heavenly father takes great joy and pride in us when we prioritize this white space and ultimately prioritize this time with him to marvel at his creation and who he has created us to be in this world.