Hey Party People,
This will likely be my last post of 2021, and one that I hope truly lands for you.
This post is about one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in 2021…
REST IS DOING SOMETHING.
We have been conditioned to believe that in order to be worthy, to earn money, to grow a business, be a certain weight or to accomplish our goals we have to work hard. We have to hustle and grind, and lose sleep, and make sacrifices. We’ve all heard this narrative before. Now of course we need to take action to make things happen, but does it HAVE to be hard? Or is it possible the way we think we need to go about achieving these things is the hard way? Is there another way, an easier way?
I have always worked hard to do my very best but that honestly landed me in a space where I only felt truly worthy when my schedule was full and my accomplishments were high. I sought out external validation to make me feel whole. Well… I learned that’s not how to fill up your cup. Relying on external validation is a recipe for unworthiness. I talk about Seeking Validation the Heathy Way a little while back which can help in those moments when you need a reminder of your greatness. But at the end of the day, your worthiness comes from inside of you.
Our society recognizes busyness, high stress and long work hours and says you’re doing something “right” if you fill every minute of your day. What is so right about not having a minute to yourself, needing at least 4 cups of coffee to get through the day, having less time for your friends, your kids, or your partner. What is so right about that? Why do we glorify that lifestyle?
On the flip side when we choose to spend time relaxing or taking time to ourselves for self-care, we feel lazy or like we “should” be doing something. That dang “should” runs our lives more than I’d like to admit. What is so wrong about rest?
What I’ve finally come to understand (after about a year of learning this lesson over and over) is that the time I take away from work is often more valuable than the time doing the work. When I take the time to nurture my mind, body and spirit working feels easier and more enjoyable. When I give myself permission to rest, my mind processes thoughts and ideas faster. I get my work done with much more ease and quicker than I anticipated. I feel accomplished without the added stress and pressure. What a concept!
We aren’t meant to strive for burnout. It shouldn’t be a badge of honour we wear trying to prove to others we are worthy of some so-called version of success. If that is success, I don’t want it anyway. I’ll create my own version thanks.
When I sat down and thought about what success meant for me the first time, I realized it was a direct reflection of society’s definition. Money, cars, houses, vacations, a title, salary – the material pieces reflected success. But when I got deep about what success meant for me I realized it wasn’t about the material things, at least not in the same way. Yes, I want to earn money, and yes I want nice things, but I also want to be happy, to have freedom, and to enjoy what I do. Success means so much more than a dollar figure and material possessions, and I think it might mean a heck of a lot more to you as well.
With all that said we need to rest. Our bodies need rest. They work hard for us day in and day out. When do we stop and show a little appreciation? Our minds need a reset. They are constantly processing information both consciously and subconsciously. By slowing down and being present we can slow the mind race. Our spirits want to be nurtured. When we are so busy rushing from each thought, task, or place we forget to check in with our higher self. We silence the voice inside our hearts guiding us towards our true desires.
Rest is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself. No one ever said it to me, or never explained it to me in a way that made sense until this last year. I couldn’t justify… no more honestly I couldn’t stand to relax or rest for more than half a day. I always wanted to be doing something… But this was the conditioned part of me acting up and playing a part. If I wasn’t doing something I felt I was wasting time and unworthy. This is a false belief. Rest will serve you far more than trying to complete that never-ending to-do list. There will ALWAYS be more to do. A little hack I’ve come up with is to shift my “To-Do List” to a “Could-Do List”. Try it out as the holidays come closer and choose to spend your time doing what you love and build in more time resting that mind, body, and spirit.
Here’s a chill vibe for you this week!
With Gratitude and Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays,
S
P.S. You may have heard that I’ve written a book. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and always thought… one day. Well, that one day has come! My launch date will be announced in the new year or if you follow me on Instagram you’ll likely get an early update. Follow me @TheOnlySaraStepa.
Curious what my book is all about?? Check out my book description below!
Your life doesn’t look like you thought it would, and now you don’t know what to do to change it.
It’s easy to get stuck in the suck because it’s the suck you know. You get used to the life you have, even if it’s not the life you want. You stay in that crappy relationship because you’re scared of being alone. You stay at that job that leaves you empty because you don’t know what else there is. You stay broke, you stay fat, or you stay unhappy because you’re afraid of what could happen if you had the courage to change your world.
When you feel stuck, it is up to you to choose to change. During a global pandemic, Sara Stepa realized that, to start living the life she wanted, she needed to change what was no longer serving her. Instead of listening to the noise around her, she took the risk to quit her job and set out on her own path. Now, in Choosing Fulfillment Is Scary AF, Sara shares her 7-step framework to help you make the decision to change your life easier.
Choosing Fulfillment Is Scary AF will help you:
- Address what’s holding you back from choosing to change,
- Trust yourself so you make the best decision for you,
- Navigate the emotions that make big changes feel impossible,
- Overcome your fear of the unknown, and
- Start living the life you want.
Life is too short to live your life for everyone else around you. It’s time to start choosing you.
