BLOG - There are three main types of rest one might need: physical, mental and emotional rest. I have written previously about physical rest and will focus on mental and emotional rest in this article.
Mental rest
It is helpful to think that your mind is like a computer.
It consists of a storage place. Just like the files in your hard drive need defragging, so tidying up your mind starts with letting go of those thoughts that are not producing a positive effect in your life.
Thoughts about the future are contaminated with anxiety, thoughts about the past are tainted with regret and thoughts about the present are spoiled with discontent.
Somehow, the mind takes on the mood of the world which is mostly negative. It is no wonder that Paul in his letter to the Philippians urges us to set our minds on whatever is true, noble, right, pure and lovely.
Multi-tasking can deplete your physical energy and mental fatigue is one of the most significant causes of avoidable accidents. So, renewing your mind can even boost your physical strength.
Here are three activities to achieve mental rest:
- Time block low-yield activities like catching up on email and engaging in social media to about 30 minutes in the mornings, when your mind is most clear.
- Meditate. Be still and observe your thoughts. Take each thought captive and accept or reject it in the light of who God says you are. Fill your mental space with restorative thoughts.
- Create a mental sanctuary. When everything around is in chaotic movement, find that still place for your mind to rest. For me, it is in Christ.
Peter, who was a companion of Jesus, reminds us to cast our cares upon him, for He cares for us. Paul too urges us not to be anxious about anything, but speak to the Creator about everything and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
Emotional rest
Emotions are powerful. They set thoughts and actions in motion. Emotions are to be explored, encountered and enjoyed.
They were never meant to be bottled up - out of fear or shame. You may remember as a child when you were caught doing something wrong, you experienced emotional unrest and tried to hide.
Hiding looks like rest because you think you are shielded. However, hiding drains and leaves you separated, isolated. Social media has made it easy to act like we have our act together. Emotional rest is you not being afraid to own up to how you currently feel; to be authentic.
There is another way that we can experience emotional unrest: research shows that we have mirror neurons that trigger us to directly experience the emotional atmosphere of others - this enables us to be connected and compassionate.
Emotions, in fact, are highly contagious. Notice how you respond to emotions displayed in a movie.
It is useful to take an inventory of the people who drain you and those who refresh you. Foster the relationships that have a positive effect on your life.
Signs that you may be suffering from emotional unrest are focusing on your failures, doubting yourself, feeling anxious, angry and depressed about life.
Here are three activities to achieve emotional rest:
- Be emotionally aware. Check how you feel in the morning and again in afternoon. What was the trigger for a change in emotion - something from your past or did you pick up on another’s emotion? You are now able to deal with the change of emotion.
- Cease comparisons. Comparing yourself with another person leads to hiding yourself and performance. We seem to always judge ourselves second best. You are uniquely you, born on earth for a specific purpose. Celebrate who you are.
- Risk vulnerability. We are born into community. We thrive when connected to others. “Open yourself to regular communion with the bread of self-disclosure and the wine of community. In drinking deeply in these rewarding relationships, you will find the strength to risk vulnerability with others.” - Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith.
- June McGahey is a natural food and lifestyle consultant based in Mossel Bay (june@healthathand.co.za)
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