Rest. And don’t confuse motion with progress.
In a society where worth is correlated with production level, we often feel the need to overextend ourselves so that we never have a moment of “doing nothing.” We don’t want to be seen as lazy, yet we deplete our energy by doing more, by busying more. We offer less than our best selves to our work and our relationships because we’ve convinced ourselves that quantity is more important than quality. Sometimes we’re afraid to slow down because if we do, we might have to be honest. We might have to get real for a second because the distractions of being busy are no longer available. My father has often quoted Alfred A. Montapert saying, “Do not confuse motion and progress.” We keep moving, rocking, spinning, spiraling...but are we making progress? Do we have to break in order to rest?
Our holistic wellness is dependent on the delicate balance of work and rest. Yet, it can be hard to sit still. Our minds are programmed to run constantly. Problem solving, assessing, fantasizing, analyzing...but they are also programmed for deep rest. For decades, your mind has been allowed to run while you breathlessly chase after - too busy to stop and realize it is you who is in control, not the other way around. After decades, imagine how difficult it can be to rewire, to reprogram, to rest. But you can. Perhaps it is just for one minute...that is a great feat. A meditation, a bath, a walk, a moment of being still. You train yourself using all the self-discipline available to be still. To rest.
EXERCISE: Close your eyes. Breathe in for a slow count of five. Notice the air as it comes in and up the nostrils. Notice the position of the eyes, though closed. Attach no story, ask no questions, just observe. Slowly begin to exhale becoming acutely aware of the breath- does it catch, or quicken? Attach no story, seek no explanation, just observe. Set a timer for 1-5 minutes and repeat this exercise until your timer goes off. If you feel like going a little longer…go ahead. If that was difficult…that’s ok too. Shake it off and try again tomorrow. Attach no story, seek no explanation, just observe.
Today may be easy. Tomorrow hard. Today 20 seconds. Tomorrow 20 minutes. The next day the mind goes crazy but at least you show up and try. Only you can do the work of programming yourself to rest. Set aside the time, create the space, honor the commitment...and get some rest!
