The Importance of Rest in Spiritual Growth

One of my coaching clients recently shared an amazing experience he had at a spiritual retreat. He uncovered insights and revelations, and released old ideas and pent-up emotions. He felt expanded, powerful and on-purpose.

When I pondered what he felt called to do in the time immediately after the retreat, he simply said, “ I need to rest.”
 
This is sage wisdom.
 
You may have experienced this need yourself. Have you ever gone on a vacation only to come back feeling like you needed a vacation from your vacation?
 
The reason why your body needs to rest is that anytime you go on a retreat or on a vacation, you step out of your usual routine of life. You’re introduced to new ways of looking at the world. This may include different living arrangements, different ways of eating, and different behaviors and perspectives from your day-to-day life.
 
Whether you realize it or not, every time you spend significant time away from your usual environment, you’re stretched to new ways of being.
 
Similarly, this is what happens when you are on the path for your own spiritual growth.
 
You grow in your understanding of who you are and your connection with the Universe around you. You grow in your awareness of what’s real and what’s meaningful to you. When you begin to engage in regular spiritual practices, you find yourself in a type of spiritual workout where you are exercising your ability to tune into the Infinite.
 
As with any kind of workout, rest is an important component. When you work out at a gym, your muscles need time to heal and repair themselves from all the activity. In this period of rest, the muscles actually grow.
 
When you engage in spiritual activity, rest is vitally important.
 
Rest provides the time for integration and embodiment. Rest allows you the time and space to realize the insights you’ve gained and to gently release beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve you. Rest allows you to settle into your expanded view of your life and all of Life itself.
 
Rest is a necessary ingredient in the growth process.
 
What does rest look like? Here are some different examples:
 

• Allowing yourself the time to sleep where you wake up renewed.
• Eating foods that provide nutrition and give you a feeling of vital energy.
• Stepping away from a situation where you feel disconnected or overwhelmed.
• Journaling your insights along your spiritual journey.
• Spending time being with someone you trust.
• Scheduling regular breaks in your schedule where you center yourself.
• Taking a walk or sitting in the beauty of nature.
• Unplugging from social media.
• Sitting in silent meditation.

 
There are a number of ways to rest, and sometimes all it takes is simply a few moments.
 
Are you feeling the need for more rest in your life? Are you interested in being more deliberate about incorporating rest into your everyday life?
 
If your answer is yes, here is your coaching assignment for the week:
 

• Looking at the list above, consider different ways that you could add more rest in your life.
• Pick one thing that you could try out this week and schedule it in your calendar.
• Let me know how this works out for you by leaving a comment below.

 
My offering to you here is to allow more breathing room in the go-go-go tendency of modern life. Being more deliberate in incorporating restful practices in your life is an expression of love and tenderness…for you.
 
Ultimately, taking time to rest is an act of loving-kindness.
 
Now breathe that in. Aaaahhhh. Yes, rest is available to you anytime, even in this moment.
 
Abundant Blessings and Namaste.
 
I’d love to hear how you incorporate rest in your life and if you have any challenges. Please leave a comment below. As always, I’d be happy to be of support to you in any way that I can.
 
And speaking of rest, I’ll be holding a half-day vision board retreat in a beautiful nature setting in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 1st. Imagine being in spaciousness as you allow the vision for your life to reveal itself. If you’d like to get notified of the details and early bird pricing, click here to find out more and let me know.

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Joselito Laudencia helps people bridge the spiritual and practical path to career and financial freedom. He is the creator of "Re-Write Your Money Story" "Finding Your Right Work," and “Vision Your Best Life.” He is a spiritual life coach and Centers for Spiritual Living Practitioner. If you're feeling unfulfilled and stuck in the areas of career, money or life in general, you don't have to figure it out by yourself. You can schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session with Prayer and get clear on what's stopping you from living the life that you love. Click here to schedule your 30-minute Free Clarity Session with Prayer.

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