Why do humans need permission to rest? This is a question I have been investigating with my clients, which typically brings us down the path to explore, what does rest mean to them?
Some of the most common answers I hear from clients or when I facilitate workshops, are:
Rest feels indulgent
Who has time to rest
I don’t know how to rest
Rest feels uncomfortable
Rest is boring
Which of these resonates most with you? Feel free to share with me below in the comments.
If we look at nature, this is the natural time for hibernation in the Northern Hemisphere -- where plants, trees and animals go to sleep for a few months. They don’t ask anyone or anything for permission, but listen and pay attention to the cycle of the season.
The holiday season, pre-pandemic, usually brings out our “human business”. The desire to be more social, go to holiday parties, travel, eat lots of cheese, drink lots of wine and buy lots of goodies. As humans who live in western, modern lifestyles, we go against the natural cycle of this season. To rest. Be still. To sleep.
This year with the holidays looking a lot different, maybe less busy with parties and travel, how can you take advantage of more rest and renewal time?
For me, I have been loving being outdoors and letting nature be a restorative respite. I’ve loved connecting with friends and family in a social distant manner where we take slow walks through the woods or neighborhoods. Time feels a lot slower and my mind feels more present. Life feels more simple and less cluttered. I am not rushing from party to party or errand to errand. My batteries feel like they are able to charge without needing an extra battery pack.
As we kiss 2020 goodbye and make space for a new year -- one filled with hope and a vaccine! How can we take advantage of this slower pace and give ourselves permission to rest so that we can feel renewed for the year ahead?