It's OK to Rest. 5 Reasons Why Rest May Solve Your Problems.

✔️Feel like you are stuck behind the 8 ball?

✔️On an emotional roller coaster?

✔️Been snapping at people or reacting to things that used to not bother you?

✔️Basing decisions out of fear instead of love?

There is a good chance that you are in a nasty circle of feeling poorly and reacting negatively, and then beating yourself up for it.

That is a NO WIN situation!

Now - here comes those old, unhealed subconscious thoughts:

1. I can't do this

2. I'm not good enough

3. I'm not smart enough

4. (We might as well throw in) I'm fat and ugly (while we are at it).😩😳

Now you are probably going to spiral into a depression of sorts. Hopefully you have a compassionate friend, coworker, or family member around that will tell you that your subconscious list of faults is a GIANT pile of hogwash! That's step #1.

Well - if that list of false faults isn't the culprit...what is!?!

Now - your body is going to kick in and give you signs (if it hasn't been trying to already).

✔️Getting headaches?

✔️Reaching for snacky garbage food non-stop?

✔️Got a pain in your neck or back?

✔️Got a sniffle or a tickle in your throat?

✔️Joints getting achy?

These are all signs of fatigue. Hopefully someone, somewhere, has taught you a few of these signs of fatigue. If they haven't, or you are too stubborn to listen...I am sure the universe will ramp up those signs and symptoms in your body.

Important: Fatigue doesn't just mean that you aren't getting enough sleep.

⭐️ While sleep is BY FAR my biggest recommendation for improving the quality of your day and your wellness....lack of sleep is not the only thing that causes fatigue.⭐️

Let's be clear, fatigue can come from so many avenues, that it can creep up on us in a hurry!!!

Fatigue can be based from:

1. Emotional - Lots of stress at work, home, or even the current state of the world around us (often caused by too much time in front of media), etc.

2. Physical - Working long hours, pushing your body beyond its warning signals, etc.

3. Mental - Too much time around technology, overthinking, perfectionism, etc.

4. Social - Trying to "fit in," the "people-pleasing disease," social calendar is too full.

5. Environmental/Too Much Stimuli - Lack of time in nature, sunshine, and fresh air and far too much time cooped up in a building and around people, etc.

6. Lack of Opportunities for Creativity/Things to Be Passionate About - Burnt out from your job, to-do list, the "perfectionism disease," doing what you think others want you to do or what you think you should do, instead of what your heart and spirit want you to do.

7. Relationships - Not setting clear boundaries with the people in your life, saying "yes" too much, leaches, narcissists, etc.

8. Choosing to Put Yourself Low on Your Priority List - Lack of sleep, lack of foods from the earth (fruits veggies), dehydration, no exercise, always doing stuff for other people first - then getting to yourself (at about #9 on your priority list).

I am going to tell you something that may shock you...It is OK to REST!!!

I get it. Sounds like a good idea, but...for other people. Or - yah I can do that...when I get this list done. Or - rest is for the weak. Many of us have spent a good chunk of our lives in a culture of "more is better," and "the way to the American dream is through hard work."

Learning to choose rest/recovery/restoration is going to take a bit of "unlearning." I understand that this will take choosing to be present, choosing to listen to your body, choosing to set clear boundaries and adding "no" to your vocabulary, and practice, practice, practice.

Here are 5 reasons why I believe choosing and practicing rest are so crucial:

1. Health - I have been in the health and coaching fields for 20+ years. Every single time someone seeks me out to work on health/wellness/emotional improvement goals - sleep is always one of their areas in need of improvement. I am sure you have heard the old saying "I'll sleep when I die!" Okay - as long as you know that averaging less than 6 hours a night has been shown to take about 15 years off your lifespan! AND...I don't know about you - but what concerns me far more than having a shorter life span, is the possibility of living my last few years on this planet suffering from yucky health issues - so that I am miserable and don't get to enjoy them. Reminder: Adults should average 7-10 hours of sleep per night. It is VERY important to make the effort to discover your "sleep number" - so that you can make it a priority!

2. Quality Relationships - Thank goodness I have good people in my life, including my husband, who rarely gets offended by much. I learned long ago that the second I get run-down (from any of the reasons above) - I need to limit my time with people - so I can reboot and rest, or the tone and language I use with others gets far less pleasant. I am sure many of you have noticed that (about yourselves) too - but I have another topic to talk to you about regarding relationships. I believe that during our lifetime, we will get several opportunities to decide what type of people we want surrounding us in this life. Hopefully you choose people who love you, are grateful for you, and are a light that lifts you up. Here is the key - if you are not exuding love, gratitude, and light - you are probably not attracting those type of people. Obviously, we also have to set VERY CLEAR boundaries, or that love, gratitude, and light will attract a lot of riff-raff. Here is where this topic wraps around: If you feel completely fatigued each day - how are you going to be love, gratitude, and light...and attract those types of people to your tribe/circle?

3. Growth - I am sure this is no "newsflash" to you - but growth requires presence, intention, focus, practice....and a lot of grace. Those 5 skills require a rested mind, body, and spirit. If you are wondering why you feel stuck, or why you can't reach your goals - maybe it is because you are far too fatigued.

4. Intention - So - this is a BIG one! I am so grateful that I have (only just) begun to witness the awesome powers of intention! In case you are "new to the game" - intention is the process and practice of getting yourself centered and then sending out your plan/goal/dream/wish for the day (or a different period of time) with a strong, positive energy behind it - that it will be done.* Here is what the "*" means: that the universe will send you this or "something better." The 'something better' means - that you understand that the universe (or God, or whatever you refer to this energy as) - is a beautiful, loving energy and that sometimes it has a better plan for you - than you have for yourself. Intention, and the level of "being centered" that it requires - needs a rested body, mind, and spirit. On days when I know that I most definitely do not have that level of rest - I just politely ask for an opportunity for rest - so that I can get back to "intending", the next day.

5. The Law of Attraction - If you haven't read about or studied the Law of Attraction - I highly recommend that you do - it can most certainly be life changing. The basics are that the energy you choose to think about and send out into the world - is the energy that you are drawing back to you. If you wake up late, smack your shin on your bed frame, run out of shampoo...and let this chain of events make you so angry that you can't quickly get over it...you will spend the rest of your day drawing more things towards you - to get angry about. Obviously, it is FAR EASIER to CHOOSE happiness and joy, when you are in a rested and rejuvenated state - so break out of that fatigue loop and watch your days of attracting more good energy into your life, increase!

My intention for myself and you is...

May you/I notice our signs and symptoms of fatigue and choose to work on improving them - so that we may navigate each day with the love, grace, and ease that we all deserve.

Many blessings to you. Grow w/me @GrowingSage