Women at Rest

Staying Grounded in a Big City or Busy World

 

Silas the Dobie practicing #10

From DailyOM

1. Live simply and live deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down the pace. You will also discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive.

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your tribe. If you don’t have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a tribe, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members -- loved ones, friends, or neighbors -- can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion.

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often "on the go" and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

Sunday Morning

The only real rest comes
when you're alone with God.

~Rumi

What Is True Rest For You?

Yesterday on Jennifer Louden's blog she asked:

What is True Rest for You?

How do you unplug your body and really rest (think eye bag and ear plugs)?
How much rest do you need, even if you've never gotten it?

Great questions! Here's my reply which I posted as a comment:

Mmmmmm, for me true rest is:

* Lying in bed wrapped in warm covers imagining myself held by Spirit. I call it snuggle time with God.

* Remembering I am not in charge. I am not the manager of the Universe. Thy will, not mine, be done. Turning my life and my will over to the care of God on a daily basis. THIS, for me, is the most profound relief there is. Doesn't relieve me of action -- on the contrary, doing the next right indicated thing is paramount -- but it does absolve me of worry and outcome.

* Quiet and silence -- extended breaks from the company of others and sound of my own voice. Just today I took a Day of Sacred Solitude at home (learned from you!).

* Kicking back on the couch reading blogs, looking at Flickr, with Entourage or The Tudors playing on TV in the background :)

* When nothing is expected of me -- or, when I lower my expectations of myself -- such as when I'm on retreat, or when I'm with good friends, or when I'm out in nature.

* Hearing the magical words "I'll take care of it for you." Boy do I love those words!

* Floating down Swan River in an innertube.

* Lying in a hammock, anywhere, with or without a book.

* Choosing the path of no-drama.

* Living honestly, trusting God, doing right, telling the truth, respecting my limits, practicing acceptance, saying NO when I need to say no and YES when I need to say yes.

I could go on but it'll all be in my book. :) Thanks for linking to my Women at Rest blog!

How about you? What is true rest for YOU? I'd love to hear your answers. Feel free to share either here or over on Jen's blog (which I encourage everyone to read).