#09 | The Sacred Pause: Reclaiming Our Essence Through Rest
Honoring the whispers of your soul with the gift of stillness and tender self-care
Beloved kindred spirit,
In a world that often glorifies relentless motion, Orloff's gentle wisdom whispers to our hearts, reminding us that rest is not a luxury, but a sacred necessity.
Whisper of Wisdom✨
"Getting adequate sleep is a necessary part of self-care. Know your own physical and emotional limits so you don't suffer from fatigue and overstimulation. Resting doesn't mean quitting. It gives you a breather so you can be clear and invigorated."
―Judith Orloff (Thriving as an Empath)
In the symphony of existence, rest is the quiet interlude that allows the music of our souls to breathe.
As we explore together in this Echoes of Our Universe series, I draw upon a rich tapestry of perspectives, opinions, and insights. It's important to me that we move beyond the limitations of rigid categories like religious beliefs, worldly labels, or political affiliations. I see each human as a beautiful spirit, inherently connected to our Maker or Creator. So, while this quote comes from my 'Thriving as an Empath’ book, its wisdom embraces us all, regardless of whether we identify with 'empath' tendencies.
To truly know and honor our physical and emotional limits is an act of profound self-compassion. It is listening to the tender whispers of our inner landscape, acknowledging when we need to retreat into stillness, and having the courage to do so without judgment.
On my own journey, I've discovered that pushing beyond my edges leads to a dimming of my inner light, a silencing of my creative voice, and a disconnection from the wellspring of my intuition. Collectively, I also can’t help to notice that I also require longer or deeper bouts of recovery. This makes my runway of connection a little longer, with a little more effort required. Knowing this is gently motivating, allowing me to instead reshuffle and reprioritize my self-care.
Rest is not surrender; it's a sacred pause—a moment of quietude where we can reconnect with our essence and restore the luminous energy within. An exhale.
Within this stillness, clarity emerges like a gentle dawn, our energy returns in flowing waves, and inspiration dances on the edges of our awareness.
In these moments, the quiet knowing of our soul can be heard, guiding us forward with renewed purpose and graceful strength.
Transformed into an Intention💡
Today, I lovingly embrace the sacred pause, honoring the delicate rhythms of my being. I recognize my limits not as boundaries, but as gentle invitations to replenish my spirit and return to the world with clarity and invigorated grace.
What I Want Most for You✨
May you embark on a journey to explore the magnificent treasure house within your soul, and may you find the answers to your heart's desires waiting to be unveiled.
Namaste,
💜 Lavender
Interconnectedness✨
Within the symphony of Echoes of Our Universe, we find this same truth touched upon or shared by others. Let us pause to contemplate these kindred voices, each illuminating a facet of our profound interconnectedness.
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
―Anne Lamott
"Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective."
―Doe Zantamata
"The field that had become renewed by lying fallow. The fields did not produce on alternate years merely, but every year."
―Ovid (The Metamorphoeses of Publius Ovidius Naso by Nathan Covington Brooks, A.M., 1847)
"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do, is rest."
―Mark Black
“Rest and self care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” ―Eleanor Brownn
“By self-care, I don’t just mean indulging in a spa day. It’s about taking care of your physical and emotional health. For me, this includes things like eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and ensuring I have “me time” every day.”
―Tina Fey
“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day their shall be to you an holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord.”
―Neville Goddard, referencing The Bible (Exodus 31:15, 32:5; Leviticus 23:3)
“Extreme Self-Care also involved surrounding myself with people who were smart, self-aware, and only interested in two-way relationships. It meant taking bold steps, such as eliminating clutter from my life, for good; creating a soul-nourishing work and home environment, and keeping it that way; getting my financial act together so that I always had choices about how to live my life; and not making any commitments whatsoever out of guilt or obligation.”
―Cheryl Richardson (21 Days to Master Extreme Self-Care)
“The subjective knowing is followed by the Sabbath or mental rest. You will be as one buried or entombed for you will know that no matter how mountainous the barriers, how impassable the walls appear to be, your crucified and buried saviour (your present subjective fixation) will resurrect himself. By keeping the Sabbath a period of mental rest, by assuming the attitude of mind that would be yours if you were already visibly expressing this freedom, you will receive the promise of the Lord, for the word will be made flesh,–the subjective fixation will embody itself. “And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” Your consciousness is God resting in the knowledge that – “It is well” – “It is finished.” And your objective senses shall confirm that it is so for the day shall reveal it.”
―Neville Goddard (Freedom for All)
“Being alone, sitting quietly, and allowing yourself to rest physically, emotionally, and mentally will give you an increasingly clear sense of who you truly are, your innermost Self.”
―Sanaya Roman (Personal Power Through Awareness)
"Learn to rest, not to quit."
―Unknown
Want to dive in deeper?
What I love about the power of words is that they allow us an opportunity to see, feel, observe, understand, and reflect simultaneously.
Let us embark on a journey to weave the sacred practice of rest and self-care into the tapestry of our daily lives, transforming it from an occasional indulgence into a cherished ritual.
Take a moment to walk through the following Reflection Prompts.
You can journal your reflections, sit and meditate with them (and see what arises from within), do something creative (like painting or drawing), or move your body (like walking or yoga) to allow them to deepen and whisper their truth.
If one particularly speaks to you, leverage that as an indicator to dive in deeper.
Reflection Prompts
Gently turn your gaze inward and reflect upon your current dance with rest. In what areas of your life do you tend to push beyond your boundaries, and what emotions or physical sensations arise when you contemplate the art of slowing down?
Recall a moment when you surrendered to the embrace of true rest, free from the weight of guilt or obligation. What tender wisdom did that experience reveal about honoring your limits, and how might you weave that wisdom into the rhythm of your life today?
Where do your current beliefs about rest and productivity originate, and do these beliefs still serve the highest expression of your being?
Hello, sweet friend! 👋 Yearning for connection and deeper meaning?
I'm Lavender, and I have a deep passion for unearthing the wisdom woven into life's tapestry. ✨ My own Life Journey, from navigating childhood complexities to a 20+ year corporate career with 55,000+ hours of interviewing (deeply studying humans), has honed my ability to discern human potential. Now, I share stories (past to present) that illuminate our paths, exploring resilience, transformation, purpose, and connecting with the magic within. Your deeper exploration begins here.✨
My last Echoes of Our Universe post, if you’d like to wander through it:
💗✨ If the content here at Life Journey: empowered has resonated with you, if a story sparked a moment of self-discovery, or if the shared wisdom illuminated your path, I welcome your kind support. Creating this space is a heartfelt endeavor, fueled by a desire to connect and empower. Your contribution, be it the enjoyment some tea 🫖 or the joy of a new book 📖, directly nourishes this work and allows me to continue sharing these soulful explorations. 👇
Exactly, rest is a beautiful and necessary intermission! The world loves to glorify the hustlers but you cannot do your best and high quality work with really connecting to your inner self, and rest is necessary for that