You may have noticed that I took a break from posting blogs in July. I noticed in June that I was tired: creatively, running low; physically, a bit drained.
I’m like you. I spend 30-40 hours a week working; hours every week commuting back and forth to my mom’s assisted living apartment to take her to doctor’s appointments; I visit my MIL in a memory care facility for a few hours every weekend; I try to prepare healthy meals (and that requires planning and shopping); I build in time for exercise. I have minor health struggles. And I try to grow my relationship with my spouse, adult children, and friends. It’s a lot – as you well know!
So, I did what I suggest my clients do: I made some time for very intentional stillness for a week. And I listened to my inner wisdom; I observed the thoughts that drifted in and out of my mind. And in my life I paid special attention to messages I was receiving: the quotes that appeared in my inbox, lines in books, comments made by friends and strangers. And I journaled my reflections.
Look at some of the messages that came to me:
“Connection with yourself only comes in moments of silence.” – Bryant McGill
“Work doesn’t work without play.” – Shonda Rhimes
“Rest is not idle, is not wasteful. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do for body and soul.” – Erica Layne
At a coffee shop a woman commented on how quickly I moved away from the counter…?! Certainly not the calming presence I try to radiate.
The paradox of be still and still moving in Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
A conversation around outer and inner hygge (the Danish way of life that promotes coziness and contentedness).
I can’t make this stuff up! Coincidences? No – I feel like they were all strong signals from God.
All this awareness brought about by my stillness led me to conclude that I needed a break.
But how?! I’m trying to get more clients, create programs for the fall, etc., etc., etc.
Excuses. I knew I needed to pull back a bit to keep moving forward. This is nothing new, sages have been saying similar things throughout time.
So, I decided that in the month of July I would not write new blogs or create any more Moments for Me. The only work I would do is post on socials and continue professional reading. This meant I was only working about 3 hours a day. (I know I’m fortunate to have this flexibility.)
I focused on all the kinds of rest Saundra Dalton Smith writes about in Sacred Rest. I walked slowly in nature almost every day for 30-60 minutes; I read on our patio; I just sat and watched the chipmunks and ground squirrels playing around the bird feeder. I listened to podcasts. I finally watched Bridgerton. Haha! I watched my breathing, trying to keep all inhales and exhales through my nose and extend the exhales to get all the carbon dioxide out. I didn't look at my phone/computer until I was up at least an hour and shut them down two hours before I went to bed. I went to church every week. I journaled a few times a week. I took a power nap if I needed one.
Now, my mind is my mind and it kept thinking about business. I simply jotted ideas in my notebook as they popped up and will reflect on what to do with them this month.
And I feel so much better for this down time. More awake. Fresher. Rested. Revived.
Our culture has us grinding away all the time. IT’S OKAY TO SLOW DOWN.
Try it. Find a way to put 15 minutes of rest in each day. You may find yourself saying, “Ahhh…that felt good!”
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