You Don’t Have to Fix it All: The Power of “Not Now” #200

February 16, 2026
00:00 18:34
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Do you ever feel responsible for fixing things the moment they appear?

Maybe it’s not big anxiety. It’s just a subtle, steady pressure to reply, fix, improve, or mentally process everything the moment it appears. That quiet activation can keep your nervous system on alert all day long.

In today’s episode, Bonnie shares a personal story about how even “rest” can quietly turn into another performance — and how learning to say “Not now” helped her lower background stress and retrain the urgency reflex.

This episode explores micro-activation stress — the hidden pressure to treat every thought like a task — and why small, non-productive moments may be exactly what your nervous system needs to reset.


Key Takeaways

Why the mind stays activated even when nothing is wrong
How God values non-productive time unseen by others
What happens in the brain when you delay urgency instead of responding immediately
One simple soul care practice that lowers background tension and increases presence

Breath Prayer
Inhale: Go into your room and pray to your Father who is in secret.
Exhale: And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Scripture
“Go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:65

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Meet Your Host
Bonnie Gray is the author of Finding Spiritual Whitespace and Whispers of Rest. An inspirational speaker and retreat leader, she has touched thousands of lives through storytelling, visual arts, nature, prayer and meditation. Bonnie’s writing is featured at Relevant Magazine, (in)courage, and Christianity Today. She lives in California with her husband and their two sons.
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