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.