“ ... You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best
I've been gone for a month
I need home for a rest ...
There so-called vacations
By the light of the moon she'd drift through the streets
A rare old perfume so seductive and sweet
She'd tease us and flirt as the pubs all closed down
Then walk us on home and deny us a round ... “
~ Spirit of the West ~ Rest ~
***
Rest is not what most people think it is. It isn’t recreation like hiking, watching TV, gardening, reading or getting wasted. They may provide a restful space, but they are not rest.
Rest can be defined as a kind of waking sleep, experience while you are alert and aware, like a bridge to sleep. We achieve rest and sleep the same way, by allowing it to happen.
When we rest, we allow our bodies to dissolve stress. The body’s relaxation response can lead to physlogical changes, similar to yoga, meditation or a day on the beach.
And the spiritual benefits of resting is profound. When you slow down and get quiet, you can actually begin to hear you own inner knowledge. When we make space in our lives, it helps us to make sense of life on life’s terms.
Having the ability to take a few conscious breaths, during which you focus on your inhalation and exhalation or the space between breaths ...
Having the ability to make a statement and do nothing, does something for you. Having the desire to put boundaries around so you can claim that time ...
Most of us need to learn how to rest. The more we integrate periods of rest and silence into our daily lives, the bigger the payoff will be. And during crisis, more rest and silence are called for. It is similar to preventive medicine. So important to make it intentional and make it a sacred time.
The yang lifestyle can cause damage to our quality of life. So this activity of REST, allows us to restore our body, mind and soul. Concentrated rest confronts stress in both ways. It reduces the demands of the situation and it reduces our energy for that demand. We have an opportunity to reflect, strive for balance, and again hold reserves for life’s emergencies.
Properly developing a discipline of concentrated rest requires both inward and outward changes. So, stop focusing on what you don’t have and start enjoying the things that you do. And plan your rest. It is hard to simply be but test will come only from intentional planning and planning rest will come only if it is truly desired.
Fortunately, we can decide that we are not a victim of time demands, we are creators and acceptors of them. We can take responsibility of our life. And so, we are as busy as we choose to be. Embrace simplicity of a life that focuses on your values and not your possessions. That concept in itself, will slow things down.
Remembering that rest is not a sign of weakness, but a vital choice to only further enhance your overall growth. Living is when we starting enjoying rather than just producing ... resting included.
No comments:
Post a Comment