Just as a good wine needs time to breathe in order to develop flavors, a steak needs to rest for five minutes before serving in order to keep the meat juicy and a cake needs to cool before frosting, you too need to take some time to breathe, rest and cool off.
Sometimes in the busyness of life and the quest of reaching for goals we forget to stop and rest.
A nap in the middle of the days seems like an indulgence.
A free afternoon of play feels naughty when there is a pile of things to do stacked up by your computer.
A short meditation seems like a nuisance when you have a deadline to meet.
But sometimes we need to stop and recharge in order to get the results we seek.
Rushing creates mistakes, missed opportunities, accidents and slips.
Slowing down to breathe, rest and cool off allows new ideas to pop up, clarity to surface, confirmation that you are on the right track to emerge and allows you to enjoy the journey.
Often just a short five minute break can alter your day in a positive way. Whether you close your eyes, take some deep breathes or simply gaze out the window a pause in your busy routine will return you to a state of presence and well being. It is here in this more calm and collected state that the pieces fall into place; the magic surfaces.
If you find yourself challenged to take even a short break in the middle of your busy day may I suggest limiting beliefs and perceptions are at hand. Beliefs such as: I don’t have the time to take a break. People will think I am lazy. People will think I am not responsbile. Taking a break won’t do any good. Or you fill in the blank ________ as you know best what you have been telling yourself.
Change those beliefs and you’ll find the freedom of a breather in the middle of the day to be a blessing rather then a curse.
In fact start now. Close your eyes. Take a breath and for just a couple of minutes day dream about something fabulous.
~Love, Esther
PS. My eyes are closing now……
sometimes in the quest of living life and reaching for goals you need to rest too
Esther, what an absolutely fabulous article!! I love it! So well put together and truly inspirational…what great advice!!!
Thank you Kelly…here’s to rest!
Wow. I really needed to read this today. There has been so much stress in our household the past week, especially, but really for the past two years. I often feel like I’m “hiding” from all of it if I take a nap, or do something for myself (like my once a month night out with a group of moms.) I feel like I’m constantly being judged, or watched, to see if I’m actually contributing, or just taking a “free ride.” It often seems like no one sees how hard I actually do work to take care of my family. Thank you for the post.
Glad this post helped put things in perspective Cynthia. When you are ready let’s do something about those limiting beliefs and free you completely!
It’s the reminders like this that make your messages so special Esther. Every time I open your latest blog, it is 100% relevant to my life. Not only has it helped me find my own inner peace and continue bravely striding forward in trust and confidence, but it has helped me open some of my friends’ minds to what my spirituality means. As always, thank you for sharing. Namaste
My pleasure. You are exactly why I do this–oh and I love to write!
Well put, Esther. I have always embraced Stephen Covey’s idea of “sharpening the axe” which could also be reworded as “take time to save time”. I am taking my break before work to write to you!!
I like the focus of the break!
prana……..we need it to exist but we so often forget to practice…………………thank you esther for the thoughtful reminder.
Your comment has the energy of peace
reading this echoed what i’ve been trying to work on recently – which is being more present, and not letting life rush by (or rushing through my life). the simplicity of life, the awesomeness of everything we have on this planet…it is important to take some time to really breathe, and step back, to appreciate. taking a short break really helps me to destress. i’m glad you’ve posted this, great reminder for me, and hopefully others will take it to heart and do it more often!
Being present something many are challenged with. Nice to hear you are conscious in your efforts to be in the moment.
time to rest, wow, four yrs. ago, as a mother of one, in her early forties, i’d gone from 40 hr. workweeks to pt/ft. But, the problem is, i still find that there is no time for rest. I was bestowed with the gift (just today) of an amazing array of groceries to go home and cook with. I did not realize i was stoked for cooking for 2 hrs. because i’d left the house with possible migraine pain. So yah, it’s really important to take small breaks, no matter WHO or WHAT squaks at you,
oh I love that..so open and honest!