Stop the Noise — Why 2025 Has Been About Less

You know that feeling when everything looks calm on the outside…

but inside, it’s just loud?

Not because your schedule is packed,

but because your mind is.

The noise of comparing.

The noise of control.

The noise of “shoulds” and “stuff” that keep piling up all around you.

This year, I hit a point where I realized:

it’s not the busyness outside that’s wearing me down.

It’s the noise inside that’s stealing my peace.

So 2025 has quietly become my year of less.

I’ve been calling it my Noise Detox,

but really, it’s just about learning to tune out the wrong voices…

so I can hear the One voice that truly matters.

Today I want to share the three kinds of noise God’s been helping me turn down:

These lessons haven’t been easy for me—but they’ve been really eye opening and freeing.

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1️⃣ The NOISE of Not Being Yourself

I’m not what you’d call busy-busy.

I’m not bouncing from meeting to meeting or juggling a dozen commitments outside the house.

My world is family, my home and until recently, a very part-time social media manager job.

But even when life looks simple on paper, it can still feel loud.

Because that mental noise—overthinking, wondering if I’m “doing enough”—can be just as exhausting as a packed schedule.

For a while, I’d scroll social media and see women out there crushing their goals, building businesses, traveling the world—and I’d think,

“Maybe I should be doing more… especially outside the house.”

But here’s the truth: this isn’t the first time I’ve faced that pressure.

Ten years ago, I made a decision — I chose to be content

To find joy and purpose right here, in the rhythm of a simple life.

Then a few years ago, I started saying yes again—to volunteering at my kids’ school, leading a small group, getting more involved with other women.

All good things… but they didn’t fuel me.

They drained me.

And deep down, I knew it.

I did them out of guilt, out of wanting to belong, out of not wanting to be misunderstood.

But the more I tried to “fit that mold,” the more I realized—this wasn’t where I thrived.

There was pressure. There was gossip. There were expectations I didn’t agree with.

And I started to feel unsafe, unseen, and honestly—tired of pretending.

Part of that was on me.

I wasn’t being honest with myself.

I’ve taught personality assessments for years—I know what energizes me and what depletes me. I’m clear on this!

But I ignored it because I wanted to be “part of something bigger.”

Only to realize I was busy doing the wrong things.

And when I began to pull away, I felt the judgment.

Maybe it was real. Maybe it was the enemy trying to amplify my fears.

Either way, it pushed me to face the truth:

I was dissatisfied because I was living someone else’s version of purpose.

The real joy I’d been ignoring was this—creating, sharing, writing, connecting online.

YouTube and blogging have been on my heart for years. I’ve dabbled in it here and there.

Deep down I know those are the sort of things I’m supposed to be doing.

And in that quiet moment, God gently reminded me:

“You don’t need to do more. You need to be more present doing what I’ve called you to do.”

We live in a world that glorifies hustle, but Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

And honestly? Being still—being present—takes courage.

It takes faith to stop chasing what was never meant for you.

Because chasing the wrong things will always drain you.

Psychologists call it “cognitive clutter”—the mental energy and stress from juggling tasks, comparisons, and obligations that aren’t aligned with your priorities.

Spiritually, it’s like trying to tune into God’s voice while you keep turning the volume up on everyone else’s noise.

So I started practicing what I call “The Noise Detox.”

Less focusing on what everyone else is doing.

Less saying yes to things that aren’t my assignment.

And more leaning into His direction—where peace actually lives.

Action Step:

Determine where you’ve been trying to be like someone else, turn down that noise of comparison, and return to God in your heart. (And a lot of times it’s returning to something He’s already told you to do.)

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2️⃣ The NOISE of Control

I’ve realized over time, that even though I am carefree- I also really like control.

Control makes me feel like things won’t fall apart—

like if I just plan well enough, stay organized enough, put enough forethought into what could go wrong, then everything and everyone will be okay.

But God keeps reminding me… I’m not the one holding it all together. He is.

And when I forget that, I start gripping things He never asked me to hold.

I say yes to things I don’t have grace for.

I overcommit, overthink, and overexplain.

I try to fix what was never mine to fix—

my kids’ friendships, other people’s opinions, issues my husband is handling at work.

And it’s exhausting.

So lately, God’s been teaching me that real trust looks a lot like saying no.

For me, that’s looked really practical—

saying no to writing an emotional email that I know I will regret writing because I want to get my way, putting boundaries around my social media use because it depletes me and the news makes me feel like the world is out of control, pausing before I say yes to coffee dates that I know will leave me drained instead of filled. It also means saying no to the lie that “I need to defend myself or my kids or husband” – Instead of letting God be my defender.

And the funny thing is?

The more I’ve released control, the lighter I’ve felt.

Because trust and control can’t coexist.

When I stopped trying to hold everything together,

I finally had hands open enough to receive His peace.

Action Step:

Determine if there is something you need to let go of, and do it. Write it on a post it note and put it on your fridge or steering wheel of your car. Attach a verse to it if you want. Let God show up for you as you learn to trust Him more.

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3️⃣The NOISE of STUFF

Here’s something else I’ve learned: when you stop trying to be someone else, or control every little thing, you start seeing and appreciating what’s already present.

There are so many good things in our lives that sometimes we miss because we are living too hectic.

Like that favorite coffee mug that feels like a little morning ritual.

The worn Bible that has tear stains on its pages and hand-written notes in the margins.

The pants that fit just right (and are oh so hard to find…but when you find them, they’re gold).

There’s a kind of abundance in using what you already have and not constantly bringing in NEW NOISE and items into our lives.

Psychologists call it savoring capacity—your ability to appreciate what’s good, over and over again.

Spiritually, it’s the heartbeat of contentment.

Paul said, “I’ve learned the secret of being content in every situation.”

And that “secret” wasn’t about settling—it was about seeing the blessings that were already there. Your health, food on the table, your family or a hug from a friend.

When you live with intention, your things become tools for you to enjoy instead of noise that brings chaos. When we use what we have and appreciate the simple things, our homes—and our hearts—start to feel fuller.

So there you have it—three reasons why 2025 has been about less:

Less faking it, more peace.

Less control, more surrender.

Less stuff, more stewardship.

If you’re in a season of simplifying—your home, your habits, or even your thoughts—remember this:

God isn’t asking you to live with less to punish you.

He’s inviting you to live with less so you can notice Him more.

Thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me today.

If this encouraged you, hit that like button and subscribe.

And as always—

Be nice to yourself.

Be loving towards others,

And find place for what truly matters.