LeadForward Vol.1 No. 3

By Joseph Benton Howell Ph.D. There Is No Rest for the Weary

in the spotlight

There is much to be said for rest. In truth, rest may be one of the most fruitful ways we spend our time. Constant activity pulls us into a whirlwind of doing, but rest draws us out of that vortex. It releases us from relentless distractions, deadlines, worries, and mental preoccupations. In rest, our emotions settle, and our bodies remember ease. For those who thrive on high levels of activity, rest can feel especially challenging. Many of us do not place a premium on rest because it seems to take time away from what we value. For some, time is money; for others, time is pleasure or productivity; still others see time as unstructured freedom. Rest appears unproductive by these measures, so it is postponed, neglected, or even denied. Yet the recovery that rest provides is essential if we are to go on. But rest offers more than recovery. It provides something most other activities cannot: space to receive what arrives only in stillness. In quiet rest, impressions, realizations, and insights arise from the soul. These moments of inner listening are essential to our sense of harmony, wholeness, and the achievement of our deepest goals.

“For some, time is money; for others, time is pleasure or productivity...”

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