Rest Is Not the Opposite of Drive
For driven people, rest can be surprisingly difficult. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that drive means making things happen….NOW! And that often means it’s not a priority. Feels like wasted time. After all, slowing down too much may cause you to fall behind.
I still notice this in myself. There are times when my body is telling me to rest, but I’m so engaged in my work that my mind ignores the signals. Recently, a loved one of mine had to be hospitalized. I was scared and confused. Someone close to me gave simple, yet wise advice.
Make rest a priority.
It caused me to be off schedule for a few days and I even felt guilty for not being on top of things like I normally am. But I noticed a huge difference.
You may have an example of this as well. It’s likely different, maybe a key employee is leaving the company, a customer is threatening to leave, a child is acting up in school, or cash is tight.
Pause. Reflect. Write down what’s going on in your life causing you to not get enough rest?
It may simply be that you’re busy. So much to do, not enough time!
What happens when you ignore the signs from your body?
Your energy becomes depleted.
Your thinking becomes less clear.
Your decisions may not be as thoughtful.
You can become disconnected from what actually matters and continue pushing simply because that’s what you do.
Eventually, the drive that has served you so well can begin working against you.
One of the 10 Disciplines is Be Still. I have come to see stillness not as separate from the work, but as part of the work. Rest can be the same. It gives your body, mind, and spirit the space to restore. It allows you to return to what you are doing with greater clarity and presence.
Because you’re driven, there will probably always be something else to accomplish. Rest allows for you manage that drive of yours without losing yourself along the way.
Journaling Prompt:
What might change if you saw rest as an essential part of sustaining your drive?
Final Thought:
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott
Wishing you lots of joy!
Much love ♥️
Rob
