The Right to Rest

We live in a time in which rest has become a luxury. Being ‘busy’ for many of us has become the normal state of being, interrupted by occasional times of rest. The problem often is though, that we have become so used to busyness (either in physically doing things or thinking about things we should be doing) that we seem to have forgotten how to rest when we finally have the opportunity to do so.

Einstein said: “Thinking is a servant, intuition a gift. We have made the servant the master and forgot about the gift.” He beautifully expressed the fact that we can’t solve everything with our busy mind.

Do you have your best ideas at times when you are feeling stressed, or when you feel calm?

I believe there is a time to think. And there is a time to put thinking aside, in order to truly rest our mind. True rest will make us think more clearly again.

Resting has nothing to do with being ‘lazy’. In fact, it contributes to making us act more efficiently.

But this can’t be the reason for resting.

Resting is our birth right as beings on this earth.

And what can be more important than a peaceful, rested mind as the starting point for ANYTHING we do in life…?

We tend to do things in this order:

1. Making decisions, fulfilling the inner or outer To-Do-List

2. Allowing ourselves to rest

But: don’t we all make better decisions, are better at what we do, if we act from a place of calm?

Let’s convince our busy mind not only that we are allowed to rest, but that rest is a necessity.

Resting does not necessarily mean sitting on the sofa and putting your feet up (though it can mean that, of course). It means allowing ourselves moments to just experience being.

Take some deep breaths, listen to the birds, have a proper look at that flower. Feel your feet on the earth. Pick up a stone and explore its patterns. Dance, sing, paint.

Take in the beauty of this world, whatever this means for you.

Especially if you feel that you don’t have the time for it.