invest in rest
Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
Ovid
Farmers know that every so often they must allow a field to go fallow between crops. Fallow land is land that has been plowed and harrowed and then deliberately left unseeded for one or more growing seasons so that the soil can rest and regenerate its fertility, minerals and other elements needed in order to produce bountiful crops in the future.
In us, our ‘field’ is our mind, body and spirit. It’s no secret that how well they work together to create a life of purpose and meaning depends, in part, on how well rested they are.
There’s absolutely no question, in our modern lives, it can be very challenging to carve out time to rest when our plates are always so full. Many of us feel like we are giving our all just to keep the balls juggling in the air, let alone make time for rest.
If we choose to ignore the need to intentionally rest, what will happen is the universe will step in and start to implement mechanisms that will take the decision to rest out of our hands. In other words, we will be forced to stop and take rest. Many of us are already familiar with some of these mechanisms. They go by many names, the most common being chronic stress, lethargy, fatigue, malaise, burnout, nervous breakdown, illness, disease and eventually death.
One must also accept that one has ‘uncreative moments’.
The more honestly one can accept that, the quicker these moments will pass.
One must have the courage to call a halt, to feel empty and discouraged.
Amelia Earhart
The idea that we are always going to be active, creative, thriving and in flow is one that we get sold on all the time. Spend a few minutes on social media and its all – rise and shine, don’t be afraid to hustle, hustle harder, good things come to those who hustle, when you rest, you rust… So its not surprising we feel disappointed in ourselves when we find ourselves feeling flat, uninspired and drained of ideas and creativity. I know I do. And yet that is inevitably what happens when we don’t give ourselves sufficient and deliberate rest time.
Rest is imperative to being inspired and creative. All healthy beings need time to rest and regenerate. Small breaks here and there. Carving out time out for yourself. Less about our output and more about what we’re putting into ourselves.
When we take the time out to rest, we are essentially giving ourselves the space to regenerate, to reconnect with the spirit within and replenish our mind and body with the life force that nurtures the seeds of inspiration and creativity that contain within them a life worth living.
Yes, our work is important. Our family matters. And whatever else you hold dear to your heart. But if you don’t take rest, soon enough, none of it will matter.
Sitting in the midst of a flat spot or fallow land can be really uncomfortable. But if instead, we start seeing these flat spots as nature’s calls to rest, and treat them as valuable periods of rest and recalibration (instead of stress and frustration), the faster we will move through these dips, and find ourselves back up and onto our next bountiful crop or season of inspiration. Activity and rest are all part of the infinite flux and flow of life. Let us draw a lesson from nature, and your life’s crop will be far more abundant and beautiful, and more importantly, you will be around to enjoy the harvest.