Because we live in a toxic culture that glorifies busyness and undervalues rest.

Our incessant busyness is also just one example of a trauma response that has become so normalized, we don’t even know we’re doing it. It’s an amazing way to distract ourselves from the thoughts and feeling we’d have to face if we slowed down.

This might seem like a sweeping statement to make. But I speak from my own personal experience, and that of having coached and guided others exhibiting this same pattern.  It takes time to decondition from the layers that contribute, but the journey is truly worth it and one you would not regret.

To become free of such patterns is liberating, and brings a joy and vitality to life you might not have thought possible.

Natures example – seasonal slowness

I’m not suggesting we all just suddenly stop. That in itself can be a shock to the nervous system. But what we can do, is move towards a more sustainable way of living (in terms of our own energy and wellbeing) incrementally, using nature as a source of inspiration.

Just outside my cabin window I see a pear tree.  Leafless but with tiny buds preparing themselves for spring. Waiting for the conditions to be just right before the leaves begin to emerge ever so gently out into the world.

Over the darker colder months, much of nature slows and stops. Pausing in stillness, fortifying itself ready for the warmth to return. The pear tree contains within it all the information it needs, knowing precisely when it’s time to bloom, responding instinctively to the changing environmental conditions.  Something we humans have forgotten how to do. Instead, we just keep pushing through.

We have disconnected from the wisdom that nature shares with us.  Rushing through life at a million miles an hour, we wonder why burnout rates are at an all-time high, along with chronic illness and a rise in auto-immunity and mental health issues. 

These are the signals of humanity’s exhaustion: Mind, body, heart & soul. How much longer will we try and keep up this pace?

Pushing through

Mostly, we stop only when our bodies force us to. Whether that’s through a minor illness such as a cold or flu, or something more serious.  Even then you might find yourself still pushing through, trying to caretake others and avoiding the call to rest. 

This is how I used to live and its why I burned out.  I still feel the impulse within to just keep going.  It’s quieter than its ever been, and I can heed the wisdom of my body more easily than ever before.

Take a moment to consider your own life:

• ·        Where do you put the needs of others above your own and to your detriment?

• ·        Where have you placed disproportionate value on getting the ‘to-do’ list done?

• ·        Where are you drawing your sense of identity and worth from what you do and achieve?

• ·        Do you get sick every time you take a holiday?

• ·        What ailments and persistent symptoms do you keep ignoring?

These are just some of the ways in which you might be pushing. Can you identify others?  I invite you to be self-compassionate and kind to yourself as you bring to conscious awareness what was once unconscious. If we identify such patterns and then judge and shame ourselves for it, we simply perpetuate the cycle.

An alternative (and healthier) approach

What if intentional rest and stillness actually prevented you from reaching the point of a mental, emotional or physical health crisis?

What if your body is becoming increasingly sick precisely because you are not listening?

Would you ignore an issue with your car without getting it seen to by a mechanic?  Would you ignore a child in distress or pain without checking what was wrong? 

This begs the question: Why then, do we ignore the incredible wisdom and powerful signals from our bodies? This miraculous vessel that carries us through life, every single day.  There is a bigger answer to this question that I will come to in another blog. But for now, lets turn our attention to making change.

Coming to rest and stillness when all you’ve done is charge through life, might not happen overnight.  I found it inordinately hard at first, and it can still challenge me now.  But the more I discover just how important it is, and how integral to human nature, the easier it becomes.

It takes time to undo the social and cultural conditioning, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.  And what if making this shift from self-care last, to self-care first, is the key to your wellbeing?

We heal in rest: Guidance & resources for you

Healing happens when we rest properly.  The nervous system can calm and our bodies can restore, rejuvenate, replenish.

If you’re not sure where to start, then you can access powerful resources, for free in my De-stress Your Life download.  This includes a PDF that will help you understand stress, and guides you through powerful restorative techniques, complete with a guided audio of the Quick De-stressor tool. 

Sometimes we need deeper guidance to undo the impacts & effects of trauma, social & cultural conditioning and to re-program our hearts, minds & bodies in a way that is authentic to us. Doing this allows true wellness, vitality & joy to return.  

If this sounds like something you need, lets have a conversation. It might just be the turning point for your healthiest year yet.  Book here: https://link.feacreate.com/widget/bookings/vitality-discovery-call