Dr. Eddie Connor | Contributor 3RY Magazine
I want you to be gentle with you. People are not always gentle with you but I want you to be gentle with yourself. If we will be honest many of us are like the Civil Rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer who said, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
We are exhausted from our job, relationships, responsibilities, the struggle of feeling like everything is on our shoulders. We are grappling with the needs of our family, building a business, uncertainty in the world, and even raising children without spousal support. As a result we wear a mask. We know how to put on this face as if everything is fine and all together. When people ask how you’re doing, we say “It’s great, fantastic, couldn’t be better. No complaints and no need of complaining” when in actuality it’s the exact opposite.
If you will be honest you just want to scream sometimes. You just want to be alone because oftentimes we are smiling while suffering in silence. We have wounds within that need to be healed. We get so caught up on doing but not being. You’re present in the meeting but your mind is somewhere else. You’re presently living but you’re living on autopilot just going through the motions because you’re not present with yourself. We have to analyze so we don’t internalize our issues.
We have to realize that we are not a human doing, we are human beings with feelings, emotions, scars, wounds, trauma, and trials that we must look within to free ourselves from emotional incarceration and psychological pain.
In the midst of exhaustion we need restoration and you can’t spell restoration without rest. If you’re going to be at your best. You have to take the time to rest.
The first type of rest we need is physical rest. Make sure that you’re getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is for your body and mind to rejuvenate and restore your energy.
The second type of rest is mental rest. Your mental health is your wealth. What do you do to refresh and relax your mind? Take the time to mind your mind. Be metacognitive and think about what you’re thinking about. Practice meditation and visualization
The third type of rest we need is sensory rest. The bright lights, phones, and computer screens can cause our senses to feel overwhelmed. On average we touch our phones 2,000 times a day. The average adult spends 11 hours on their phone per day. We connect to our world through our senses but we must take time to unplug and disconnect to reduce emotional fatigue.
The fourth type of rest is creative rest. What are your creative gifts and abilities? You need creativity to solve problems and brainstorm new ideas. Creative rest reawakens the child-like wonder within us. Allow yourself to take in the beauty of the outdoors. Explore art (in person or online), go for a walk, take a trip, check out a scenic view, sit by the water, etc.Tap into your childlike joy. Pablo Picasso affirmed “Every one of us is born an artist. The challenge is to remain an artist once we’ve grown up.”
The fifth type of rest is emotional rest. Emotional rest also requires the courage to be vulnerable and authentic. We must realize that it’s okay to not be okay. Take the time to talk to a mentor, counselor, or therapist.
The sixth type of rest is social rest. Do your relationships drain you or sustain you? We must differentiate between those relationships that revive us from those relationships that exhaust us. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Don’t allow the fear of missing out to cause you to overextend yourself. Learn how to find balance between isolation and connection.
The seventh type of rest is spiritual rest. Make a decision to stop holding on to what you were never supposed to carry. Begin to cast your cares on God because He cares for you (I Peter 5:7). Revive yourself through prayer, meditating on God’s word, and surrounding yourself with a community of supporters. Maintain an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings not your problems.
Dr. Eddie is a 13x best-selling author, international speaker, and cancer survivor. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @EddieConnorJr. Join his Academy at www.DrEddieAcademy.com
