12: Rest
“That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.”
“The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.”
Reflection:
I love to work. I seem to thrive when I am doing something and I am feeling productive. But I only have so much energy. I have so many plans and so much to do - how can I accomplish everything? One way - is through rest. Did you know, you can rest while you are working?
One of the insights I have learned through the practice of yoga, is to ask myself: “Am I working too hard in this pose?” Sometimes, as I scan my body and all of the ways I am holding, I discover, “Yes, I am working too hard here.” My muscles are tense, my brow furrowed, my jaw tight. “Yes. Yes, there are actually ways I can release into the posture and relax into the stretch. And amazingly I discover - in my relaxing, I can accomplish more! I have taken this insight from my mat, into my everyday life. In my day-to-day, with whatever it is that I may be doing, I now often ask, am I working too hard? Many times I have found that I am.
Sometimes, physically, we are acting or reacting more intensely than we need to when we work.
We tackle the job at hand with full force and full speed: all of our rudders are in the water and all of our sails are flying. It is great to have energy and drive, but there are times when the task can be accomplished just as well with a less aggressive touch. We can release, and relax, and enjoy.
Sometimes we carry unnecessary loads:
. . . loads of worry, loads of doubt, loads of thoughts about the past or the future. In quiet contemplation, we can set these loads down, and ease into our next moment with a beautiful calmness. We can release, and relax, and enjoy.
Centering Thought:
I contemplate the beautiful in everything I do; I release; I relax; I enjoy.
Questions:
Do you allow yourself time to rest your mind?
What are the ways that you find rest during the day?
Are you able to center your thoughts on the present moment?
Are you working harder than you need to work?
Gratitude:
I am so thankful for the insights that I have learned. I am thankful that I am more aware of how I approach the tasks in my life and how I am going about my day-to-day. I am grateful that I have discovered ways of gracefully accomplishing what I need to accomplish in ways that are enjoyable. I am truly thankful that as I contemplate the beauty in all that I do, I can surrender. I am glad that I can release, and relax, and enjoy all of the moments of my life. I am thankful that I can choose and do choose to set my burdens down. I am thankful that I do not work harder than I need to work, and that in this way, I accomplish much more while I live the life I love.
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today! I hope you have a beautiful rest today - That you will find peace and grace as you are resting while you are working. Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.