Another Round of Rest

If you’re a faithful follower, you know I’ve written about this before, and I’ve even talked on the radio about it. One of my favorite people who agreed to be a guest writer also wrote about this. And if you’re not a faithful follower, maybe take some time to check out the other posts on this topic!

It’s worth revisiting.

It’s worth redefining.

So, here we are again…talking about rest…again.

Because it’s worth it.

We’ve formed some bad definitions about rest, and they’re getting in the way. I’m not going to take the time to list all the reasons why we’ve formed bad definitions. Maybe that’ll be another blog post. But we are going to look at some of the bad definitions we have and what to do with them.

I was recently sharing some of these ideas with a group, and while our stories and lives are varied, we all agreed that we all had some version of these “bad definitions” of rest:

• Rest = Lazy

• I can’t take time for myself

• I don’t have enough time to rest; there’s too much to do

• Rest is selfish

• It’s too extravagant

• I have to “earn it”

There are several more, but the important thing is to recognize that we all have bad definitions of rest, and that needs to change - for our good and for the good of those we are in relationship with. We need to make a shift.

Rest

Rest and recovery are not the same thing. If you think of rest as falling into your bed exhausted after a very long day, you’ve developed a bad definition. Understandable how it happened, but it’s a bad definition nonetheless. Recovery is imposed rest. That doesn’t even sound good! Recovery is due to an illness or being exhausted from overworking.. Hopefully, recovery is more sporadic, whereas rest is more of a constant.

Rest is a rhythm we are designed to engage in - daily, weekly, seasonally. But it’s our choice whether or not we enter into this rhythm. Think of it like hearing a song playing in the background. It can simply play in the background. You’re aware it’s there, but you may not be paying all that much attention to it. Or it can be playing in the background, and you choose to really tune into it, listen to the lyrics, pay attention to the music. Rest is the frequency constantly humming all around us, but are we entering into the flow of it? (Makes me think of the sea turtles in the movie Finding Nemo.) Are we tuning in and really allowing it to become part of us?

Rest is not a reward we receive because we’ve “earned it.” Rest is a necessity to live a full life. It is the fuel we run on. If we don’t have adequate rest, it’s like expecting your car to run without gasoline. Asking our bodies, minds, and hearts to function at full capacity without rest is another example of a bad definition. And it’s simply not possible. Rest is as much a need as food, water, oxygen. We are not designed to live without rest.

Taking Delight In

But let’s take this another step further. Another facet of rest is the idea of taking delight in. How often do you pause and “look back” at what has been done? (Not in an “earning it” sort of way.)

How often do you pause and allow your entire being (heart, mind, body) to adjust/readjust to being in alignment with God and creation? 

We are designed to enjoy beauty and created order, and so pausing to delight in what has been done brings us back to being “in tune” with beauty and order (not chaos - which we have a lot of going on around us!)

One of the people in the group I was recently discussing these ideas with used the phrase “build some joy.” I told her I was taking that for myself and was going to use it. (Here it is, Sally!) What are one or two ways you can “build some joy” today?

Choosing to Celebrate

We’re taking this all even one step further! Engaging in rest is necessary. It’s a rhythm. Pausing to take delight in really starts to solidify the true definitions of rest. And choosing to celebrate is like icing on the cake…cherry on top…whipped cream (why are these all food related?!).

Again, I don’t mean choosing to celebrate as coming from a place of “I’ve earned it.” Think of it more as commemorating or marking a moment that matters. Doesn’t have to be a “big thing.” We seem to reserve the idea of celebration for “big” things, but “little things” matter, too. “Small” moments are only small if we view them that way. Allow your ideas and thinking around celebration to begin to shift.

One of the most difficult parts of this may be allowing yourself to celebrate yourself. You don’t always have to first think about what others want or need. Yes, the desires and needs of others matter, but your desires and needs matter, too. Celebrating the moments that matter to you isn't taking up too much time or space. There’s room for all of it!

Reaching a goal you set for yourself this week (whatever it was) is worth celebrating, commemorating, marking the moment. (And this is not meant critically, but I’m not talking about “little treat culture.”) Have a treat if you want, but more often than not, it’s tied to “earning it.” 

Shift your ideas around what “celebration” looks like because it doesn’t have to involve eating or drinking or spending. It can look like doing an activity you enjoy that you feel like you don’t often choose (taking a walk, reading a book, talking with a friend, gardening, building something, etc.). 

Find your rhythm of rest, your way of taking delight in, your way of celebrating. It’s worth it. YOU are worth it. So, what are some ways you can rest, take delight in, and choose celebration? What are some ways you can do that today? This week?

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If you’d like help with redefining rest or exploring freedom from bad definitions, send me an email or schedule some one-on-one time with me. And consider subscribing to my blog where I post lots of helpful suggestions on how you can begin (and continue) this journey of recovering your blueprint!