It’s almost noon and I’m still in my jammies.
If you were one of the 13,000-plus people gathered in Atlanta, Georgia over the last two days at the Catalyst Conference then you may be experiencing what I like to call The Catalyst Hangover.
It’s the feeling you get after drinking in several days of some of the most innovative thinkers, speakers and teachers from around the country (and world), staying up way to late to connect with amazing people, wrestle with ideas, and share your life. If you’re feeling slightly dehydrated, tired, and like your brain is about to pop with all you learned, then it could be The Catalyst Hangover.
Here’s some quick ways to recover (and don’t worry, none require drinking any crazy tomato juice concoctions):
1. Rest. Carve out some lazy time to sit on a couch and reflect. Allow your body and mind to process all you’ve experienced.
2. Remember the specifics. When someone asks you about your time at Catalyst, you may be tempted to answer, “Fantastic”, “Amazing”, or “Great”. Don’t stop there. Think about something specific you really enjoyed–a particular speaker, message, a world-record setting belly flop, the antics of some crazy guy named Lanny…whatever it may be that made your soul smile–and let the person know. Remembering the specifics helps you frame your experience for others and yourself.
3. Reflect and pray. Make time to prayerfully reflect on what God was really saying to you through the event. Throughout the Catalyst Conference, you heard many voices, but at the end of the day only One Voice really mattered. What was God saying to you? What was God to you through the various sessions? When you’re not thinking about Catalyst at all, this is the whisper, the echo, the nudge that keeps coming back. Look back through your notes. What did you underline? Star? Highlight? Make time to prayerfully consider what God was saying to you and what it will look like to respond in obedience.
4. Register for next year. Sorry to have to mention this, but dude, they sold out. If you want a spot next year, grab it quick while rates are low and tickets are still available.
5. Eat Chick-fil-A. Yep. A yummy lunch of God’s chicken with people who know you and love you and who are for you can help remind you of who God has called you to be as His kid, a servant, a leader.
And as far as No. 6, well, I’d love to hear your cure for The Catalyst Hangover!
