{"id":1205,"date":"2016-12-21T05:05:48","date_gmt":"2016-12-21T13:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rickhanson.net\/?p=29486"},"modified":"2016-12-21T05:05:48","modified_gmt":"2016-12-21T13:05:48","slug":"rest-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/justonething\/2016\/12\/rest-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Rest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Busy, busy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Practice:<\/strong><\/em>
\n Rest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This practice is definitely a case of teaching what you need to learn: I\u2019ve been working through a big bucket of tasks lately<\/a> with little chance to rest. (I console myself with knowing that the bucket is emptying a lot faster than it\u2019s filling with new tasks.)<\/p>\n

Sometimes you can really feel what you need to do by feeling what\u2019s happening for you when you don\u2019t. \u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d that is: ease up, unwind, recharge, put your feet up, take a load off, just chill. Because when you don\u2019t rest, you wear out, wear down, and start running on empty. Then you\u2019re not much good for yourself or anyone else.<\/p>\n

But when you get some rest, and get more rested, you have more energy, mental clarity, resilience for the hard things, patience, and wholehearted caring for others.<\/p>\n

I promised my wife this would be my all-time fastest JOT to write. Because I really need some rest!<\/p>\n

And you do, too.<\/p>\n

How?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Tell the truth to yourself about how much time you actually \u2013 other than sleep \u2013 truly come to rest: not accomplishing anything, not planning anything, not going anywhere. The time when you don\u2019t do anything at all, with a sense of relaxation and ease. No stress, no pressure, nothing weighing on you in the back of your mind. No sense of things undone. Utterly at rest.<\/p>\n

Probably not much time at all, if you\u2019re like me.<\/p>\n

Also acknowledge to yourself any unreasonable beliefs or fears about resting \u2013 for example, that if you rest you\u2019ll lose your edge, things will fall apart, you\u2019ll let people down, others will judge you.<\/p>\n

Now imagine a kind, wise, fearless friend looking over your shoulder and knowing both how little time you rest and your \u201creasons\u201d for not resting more. What will your friend tell you? Similarly, listen to your own innermost being about you and resting; what is that still quiet voice saying to you?<\/p>\n

Imagine the benefits for you and others if you listen to the support and wisdom of your dear friend and innermost being.<\/p>\n

Then commit to what makes sense to you, in terms of nudging your schedule in a more restful direction, refusing to add new tasks to your own bucket, taking more breaks, or simply helping your own mind be less busy with chatter, complaints about yourself and others, or inner struggles. For example:<\/p>\n