Choosing Rest
Relax. Kick your feet up. Take a break already. Harder than it looks, at least for me. I’ve had to work at resting. Ever sat down to laze away on your day off, only to notice all the things around you that need to be done? It seems that as soon as I park my body, my brain decides it’s list making time. The to-do scroll rolls out like a carpet runner. I sit still while my heart races. This is no way to relax. I have to let go and sink in.
Rest is a heart attitude.
In this season of life, I am discovering how to embrace rest more fully so that I feel less stressed and exhausted. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are times when certain things have to get done and they can require pushing through exhaustion to get them accomplished. But doing that long-term results in burnout. With a proper work/rest rhythm, our lives become more sustainable.
I am learning that in order to receive rest, I have to release expectations of what I think I should be doing instead. By releasing the expectations, I am able to embrace the moment and receive out of it what I want and need. For example, if I want to relax and read a book, but in the back of my mind I’m telling myself that the dishes need to be done, dinner needs to be cooked, the house needs to be cleaned, finances need to be updated, and things need to be prepared for the work week, then I’m not truly relaxing and enjoying reading a book. I’m stressing myself out with the expectation that I should be cooking and cleaning, thus disrupting and interfering with any internal rest I might have gained if I had just chosen to completely relax and enjoy the book.
Being able to enjoy rest also requires being able to set boundaries. It can be nice to have some spontaneity at times, but if you try to “do all the things” and not create the necessary space for rest and relaxation, then it just adds stress to the situation.
So what did choosing rest look like for me this past weekend? Well, Friday morning I went horseback riding with some friends. It can be a lot of work physically, especially in this heat and humidity wave we’ve been having, but the rejuvenation it brings to my heart and soul is completely worth it. I had such an awesome ride and was able to focus on communicating more effectively with the horse I was riding. Moments like that make me happy. When I got home, I choose to just chill and enjoy the afternoon. I snuggled the kitties, took a nap on the couch, and enjoyed a relaxing evening with my husband. I slept in on Saturday and took my time getting ready for the day while listening to a podcast. I choose to relax on the couch and read a book.
On Sunday, I choose to take the time to write some blog posts. By choosing that though, I made the decision to forgo a few hours of a spontaneous trip to the beach with family. But again, part of resting is also being okay with the decisions you make to create the space needed for rest. It is about finding the balance between responsibilities and the time and space needed for rejuvenation. My husband put on an awesome worship playlist, so while writing for my blog, I was also able to just sing and worship the Lord. This brought peace to my spirit and soul and reminded me that we gain true rest when we release our burdens to the Lord and relax in His glorious presence. It shifts my perspective to what really matters and helps me to be grateful for the moments of rest and rejuvenation.
And after completing one blog piece and starting a second one, I decided I would join my husband and mother-in-law for a quick swim in the Chesapeake Bay. Sometimes, rest is also about making memories with those you love.
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