Sometimes, we feel like we need permission to rest.
Or maybe that’s just me. I feel like I need permission to rest, take it easy, not push myself so damn hard.
This seems to be a lesson I haven’t quite mastered. I’ve written previously about how I injured my hip from over-pushing myself and not listening to my body. But the lesson has come around again, so I’m getting to learn it at a deeper level.
For the past month or so, I’ve been experiencing a lot of exhaustion, and while I generally get a good night’s sleep, it didn’t seem to be enough. I had a check-up from the doctor, thinking perhaps it was hypothyroidism, but everything checked out physically.
I HAVE been doing a lot of inner work over the past few months: I hired a coach to work on some relationship challenges, I’ve been taking a training on Akashic Records that is fascinating and energetically taxing, and I’m in the middle of several books to help me deepen my spirituality, improve my thinking, and increase my business. Add to that some new initiatives I’ve taken on for my business, and some grief due to the deaths of friends and a dear family member…Yeah, I don’t know why I’m tired!
But my logical brain says, “You must keep working. You need to grow your business. Nothing is going to happen if you’re not working on it.” So even if I take a nap, or take a break to walk in the park, when I’m thinking these punishing thoughts, it’s not restful or rejuvenating.
So my body intervenes.
Last Friday, just after I awoke, I was gripped by an intense muscle spasm in my back. Thinking I had just tweaked it, I paused and tried to stretch it out. Unfortunately, nothing I did made the spasm, or the 10-out-of-10 pain, recede. The pain was so intense, I couldn’t think about much else. I cancelled plans I had for the day and only left my house to get acupuncture. That eased it maybe 10%. The acupuncturist recommended a follow-up the next day, which I scheduled, as acupuncture has helped me in the past with persistent muscle spasms. I also scheduled a massage for the next day.
Other than those appointments, for two days I just ate, slept, watched movies, slept again, alternated heat and ice, drank lots of water, and slept some more. I couldn’t believe how much my body could sleep!
Several hours after the massage, my back started easing up. It felt so good to be able to breathe without pain again.
So if your body is tired, or hurting, or if you feel like you need a break, I encourage you to take that break. This is your permission slip. You deserve a break! We are human BEINGS, not human doings. And sometimes we all forget that. Or, rather, I sometimes forget that.
