Lean Into Rest

Are overwhelmed, tired, or stuck words that describe you?

If your answer is yes, then here’s my gift to you this month:  REST.

Ironically for me, and I’m guessing it’s true for most of us, I had an inner resistance to rest. It didn’t come easily.

I’d told myself so many times, “I’ll rest tomorrow or on the weekend, or when I’m on holidays. I don’t have time to rest now.” I believed rest was optional – but it’s not.

As a recovering doer, I’m learning to accept that pushing through and trying to get it all done almost never works. Doing “busy” isn’t the answer if you’re not first connected to your why, your vision and who you want to be.

I’ve begun to embrace a deeper relationship with rest that I hope will encourage you.

Intentional living includes making room for intentional rest because rest is at the core of our mental, physical, and emotional health.

Rest allows us to be more of who we truly are.

In part, I was resistant to rest because I saw only what it stopped me from doing and not what it gave me in return. It was a limitation, an obstacle. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. After spending time exploring what this thing ‘rest’ is, I now know there are many more ways to experience rest than stopping, napping, or sleeping.

There’s a variety and depth to rest for our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.

As I continue to lean into rest, what it offers keeps expanding.

Rest for me now includes physical movement like swimming, walking, and stretching. All of which leave my body feeling relaxed and rested. It includes getting outside in nature which fills me with a physical and mental calm. Visiting art galleries, aquariums or concerts, takes me away from my day-to-day struggles, doubts, and anxieties, and inspires my mind and heart, allowing me to breath more deeply and rest.

Rest can be found in making time for meaningful conversations with friends. Or it can be found in play!

Journaling, prayer, and meditation also bring a deep rest to my soul – an inner peace. When you slow down enough so your mind can rest you allow new insights and understanding to enter.

I’ve also discovered there’s a connection between rest and my capacity for joy and wonder. Rest gives hopes and dreams room to be known, explored and experienced.

“Most of the things we need to be most fully alive never come in busyness.

 They grow in rest.”   Mark Buchanan

Incite Actions:

• Observe without judgement what you are telling yourself about rest and what you do to resist rest.
• Explore new ways of resting. What could that look like for you? Feel free to try some or all the things I’ve been exploring. Block time in your calendar to help make this happen.
• Notice. Ask yourself, “What is my favourite way to rest? What does it give me? What is different after I rest?”.
• Check this out – spend time doing things you loved to do as a child!

If you’d like some help figuring it out let’s do it together. At Incite Coaching, I offer one on one coaching and workshops. To book a free Inquiry Call please contact me.

 

Until next time,

Elizabeth