Be still and find joy

All too often, we forget to give ourselves a break and instead, we get caught up in our hectic schedules, leaving almost no time for rest. Guilt sets in, and we are concerned that we won't accomplish everything on our list. Then, we tell ourselves that we're not doing enough, but the truth is, we don't need that kind of pressure and resting can be enough. Yes, goal-setting is valuable, but our culture tends to take it to the extreme. Throughout social media, there's a never-ending flood of content that tells us that if we are not setting goals, we are not really living. I would argue that we are not really living if we don't allow enough time for rest.

In late March, when I was dealing with my 14-year-old dog's sudden cognitive decline, life paused for a bit while I focused on her care. She was frantic and pacing, experiencing symptoms similar to sundowning in dementia patients, so I created a healing and peaceful environment in my place. I played healing music, gave her supplements known to improve cognition, and helped calm and comfort her at night when she was unsettled. Doing this unexpectedly brought some much-needed calm into my own life, as I sat in stillness while the lights were dimmed and waited for my dog to fall asleep. I even managed to get myself to bed earlier than usual in my attempt to get more sleep. For about a week, we were both awake every few hours as she experienced extreme restlessness, so that's why going to bed early was so crucial.

Through this experience, I was able to recognize that the same care I was providing for my dog was care that I was neglecting for myself. While I witnessed her neurological confusion, I realized that my own brain doesn't get enough of the rest it deserves. I'm too busy trying to control everything in my life, and I'm not saying that is always a negative thing, but we have to allow ourselves to recharge more often. We are not meant to go nonstop, but we can all agree how difficult it can be to find that stillness, especially when things are happening that are well beyond our control. In those moments, we want everything to be fixed immediately, but sometimes, resting and surrendering the control is the best step to take. For me, "Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10), comes to mind these days, even though I often struggle to relinquish the control. It is a freeing experience though once I choose to surrender and release my burdens. And the song, "Come to Me," by Sandi Patty has been on replay for months now:

Come to Me, you who are weary I'll give you rest, I'll give you rest Come to Me, I'll take your burden Come to Me, I will give you rest

-Written by Greg Nelson and Phil McHugh, on the album, Artist of my Soul, 1997

From a more scientific standpoint, resting can enhance your mood and prevent you from experiencing burnout. None of us wants chronic stress or the health issues that come with it, including those that put our immunity at risk. When we rest, it actually activates the default mode network (DMN) of our brain, the part that happens to be connected to creativity and our own definition of self. So by resting, we are hitting the refresh button on our brain, opening ourselves up to more creativity and a greater expression of who we really are. We tap back into joy!

I came across a blog titled, "The Joy of Rest" and was very inspired by what the author, Grace Atwood, discovered about rest: "Over time, I have come to see rest as an investment in myself." I couldn't agree more because when we make time for rest, it shows that we are valuing our self-care and overall well-being. That rest fuels us for whatever we have to tackle next because we've allowed ourselves the time to clear our minds a bit. When our minds are less cluttered, it is easier to find more joy in life because we are spending less time feeling overwhelmed or pressuring ourselves to juggle too much. Like most of us over the past few years, Grace has also learned to choose and cherish those moments of rest rather than focusing too much on filling up her schedule and being constantly busy.

A daily habit of stillness that I have been more deliberate about over the past few months is setting aside time to walk in nature, and in my own setting, that means near the ocean water. There's this beautiful lighthouse that I can see across the water from a few different picturesque spots in my town and I love capturing it in various photos! I try to schedule in these walks at least 1-2 times a day to more proactively anticipate my needs rather than hitting a wall first before escaping to the outdoors. My soul needs it now more than ever and it helps calm my mind instantly. Honestly, I consider it to be one of the best forms of therapy, other than music of course! It's an opportunity to embrace the beauty around me, practice more gratitude, and not fret or focus too much on what's not going well. I am reminded all is well and it's going to be ok.

Friends, have you been making enough time for rest? If not, I encourage you to find a daily habit that works best for you. You won't regret that time of self-investment and you'll feel rejuvenated too. Be still and find your joy!