From early childhood, we were conditioned to believe that our productivity is our greatest value. The more we produce, the greater our value. The more you do, the more valuable you are. The more money you make, the happier you will be. We grew up to believe that resources equal value.
And it's all fun and games until we grow up, and suddenly, we feel guilty for wanting to take a nap in the middle of the day. When we rather drink another coffee than go to sleep. When we have a day off work and chores around the house need to be done, so yet again, no time to rest. Our bodies are screaming at us, by being sick and tired all the time, to just stop and sit down for a minute.
We say we don't have time to rest, but even if we have the time, we find something else to do. And it's a never-ending cycle. Because if I don't do what is expected of me, am I even valuable? If I just do nothing, if I just exist, then do I even matter? As a person, as a human. Am I allowed to just be?
Of course you are. You didn't come to this Earth to just work. But there's so much guilt and self-shame in "not doing what is expected." It's hard to undo years and years of conditioning, and a big part of it is inherited, from our ancestors, from previous generations, who grew up with the same rules and the same trauma.
So rest is one of the most spiritual practices you can do, because you show and teach yourself that it's not normal to just work, to just produce, to always be on the go. You show your body that finally, it's okay to take that much needed rest. What should be normal is to listen to our own bodies – not what society tells us to do.
To tell yourself – "You did great, thank you for pushing through the past years and doing your best – but now you can rest. You're allowed to just do nothing. It doesn't decrease your value. You're valuable just as you are." And it will take time, not to feel guilt and shame, but with time, and care for yourself, you can show your body that this is normal. This is the new you, who is allowed to rest when they want. Your body is your only home, until the day you die. Listen to its needs and signals, because it's there to protect you – your soul. Your one real home.
So rest whenever you feel like, whenever you can, whenever you want. Trust me, the world won't crumble because you stopped for a minute.