Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. You know, rest is an inherent part of the rhythms of nature. All around us, things rise and fall, they bloom and close up, shine and fall into darkness, they sleep and wake. We have spring and winter, movement and stillness, sound and silence. We human beings, of course are embedded in the cycles of nature.

So our bodies and minds work at their optimum when we allow them to operate in their natural balance. But so often we override our inner calls to take rest. We just keep on pushing through, planning, doing, achieving, fixing, solving, running. And part of the reason for this is that in our culture today, being constantly on the go is encouraged and rewarded. And rest is seen as lazy, useless sometimes and even shameful.

But the truth is, is that rest is rich with rewards. It clears our minds. It strengthens our bodies, boosts our immune system, enhances our creativity. Research shows that when we switch out of doing mode into being mode and let ourselves rest, we're better able to connect with our loved ones, feel contentment and happiness, and we're more able to be fully present in our moments. And then the joy and inner strength that comes from our times of rest, connection and play can naturally flow out into the rest of our lives.

You know, if you think about the analogy of a battery. This makes so much common sense, right? We need to keep recharging our energy stores with rest so that we don't become completely depleted and run ourselves into the ground or get lost in a haze of running around in our own personal rat race. So this week I invite you to reclaim your right to rest, take back some time to feed your soul. You know, so maybe just take a moment to contemplate what this means for you. What can you do today, this week, this month to recharge your batteries? It could be as simple as taking regular breaks at work, having a slow cup of tea, going for a walk in the park or carving some time out for that hobby that you love, you know, the one that really nourishes you.

It could also mean saying no to some events, projects or, you know, people, invitations so that you can have more space and move a little slower, or it might just mean taking a nap. By giving us permission to rest at regular intervals, you'll avoid burnouts and meltdowns and enjoy a more sustainable way of living where you can show up as your best self when it's time to get back out there again.