The Goodness of Rest: The Invitation to Rest and Be Rejuvenated
A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to come and sit. It was a spontaneous invitation, which are sometimes the best kinds, to slow down and just be. It was so kind and so hospitable, and I received it. Yes, I will sit on your front porch rocking chair. In the slowing down and sitting, there was room to soak up the beauty outside, the way the sunlight changed in the dusk hour, and to connect with this friend over conversation. It was good.
On paper there was nothing “productive” about it. It meant pressing pause to the endless checklist of what needs to be done for the home, for our kids, and for work, yet it was nurturing on the soul level. While rest can be so difficult to access and make room for, maybe it really is as simple as saying yes–yes to ourselves and to our souls, yes to our faith and what really grounds us, and yes to connection both with ourselves and others.
We live in a society and culture that places a high value on productivity, and while it certainly does feel great to check things off our list, to access motivation and drive, to reach goals, we have to remember to recharge through rest.
There is actual goodness in slowing down, pressing pause, and taking some time to rest. It is good for our bodies. It is good for our minds. It is good for our emotions. It is good for our souls.
Invitation to Rest
We are invited to rest continuously. Rest offers a rhythm to our days and weeks that we can enter into, yet we have to receive it. We get to decide if we make space for it, say yes to the invitation, protect and guard it.
Permission to Rest
I went to a retreat on rest last month, and one of the questions that was asked to foster reflection was “who are our taskmasters?.” Who do we hear telling us that it’s not okay to rest? That rest is lazy? That we are not allowed to rest? Or that we are not allowed to rest until everything is done? We may think of external voices, yet often these may be messages we hear internally.
Stopping what you are doing to sit or lay down, does not mean you are lazy. Watching a show does not mean you are lazy. Reading a book does not mean you are lazy. Choosing to leave the kitchen a mess while you prioritize something else that you need may actually be the better choice sometimes. Taking time to rest does not mean you have low capacity, are weak, or that something is wrong with you, etc.
If you can relate to this, consider a different, softer truth. One that says that rest is a need, not a luxury. One that says that you are worthy of rest and replenishment. Not only are you worthy, but you have permission to rest. Not only do you have permission, but you are encouraged to rest. It is like water to our souls.
Rest and Trust
I heard a talk a few months ago, and the speaker emphasized that rest means to trust. It has stuck with me since then, and I have since been reflecting on the connection of rest and trust. Certainly it is easier to rest, when we are filled with trust. When we are so anxious and on such high alert, rest feels impossibly out of reach and hard to grasp, like trying to catch sunlight or shadows that continue to dance away from us.
And, yet, sometimes by simply claiming rest, we are perhaps more able to trust as we have a refreshed body, a refreshed spirit, and a refreshed perspective. When we are more rested, it’s easier to be in a place where maybe we can actually trust that all will be well even in the midst of hard things, emotions, and circumstances.
And, so when we are so anxious and overwhelmed, let’s consider that instead of getting things done at all cost, to first prioritize our own well-being. This allows us to circle back to what needs to be done, to our work, and to caring for others from a place of replenishment. This involves inherently seeing rest as good, noticing that you are invited to rest, and giving yourself the space and permission to enter into rest. It may feel uncomfortable at first almost like trying out a new style of clothing, yet rest may just offer a rhythm to your days that sustains you and is life-giving both to you and others.
For Reflection
What would saying yes to the invitation to rest look and feel like for you?
Are you in a place where reframing your inner narrative to give yourself permission to rest could be significant for you?
What feels most restful and rejuvenating to you?
How can embracing trust and surrender help you to access true rest?
How do you see rest and anxiety connected in your life?
Elizabeth B. Burton is a licensed professional counselor with Burton Counseling, PLLC. In addition to counseling, Elizabeth provides life coaching, courses/workshops, and writing. You can learn more about the course on Coping with Anxiety & Stress here, and if you are interested in workshops, you can learn more here.
Elizabeth provides online counseling to individual adults living in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. Elizabeth provides in person counseling for individuals located near Chattanooga, TN. You can learn more about counseling with Elizabeth here.
Elizabeth provides life coaching to individual adults and couples living anywhere. Life coaching services are available online, and in person coaching is available for individuals located near Chattanooga, TN. You can learn more about life coaching with Elizabeth here.
In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys reading and shares book recommendations for adults here and for children here.