Cultivating Play and Rest

Cultivating Play and Rest ~ Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity As Self-Worth

Tell me, where do you find your worth? 

Is it wrapped up in how many tasks you accomplished today? Or maybe its defined by how much you own?

Does it constantly feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Too much to do in too little time? These feelings are not uncommon!

In a culture where net worth is often prioritized over self-worth, it’s too easy to get caught up trying to achieve more and more and utilizing outside yardsticks to measure our own self-worth. 

The seventh guidepost of Dr. Brene Brown’s 10 Guideposts to Wholehearted Living is Cultivating Play and Rest and Letting Go Of Exhaustion As A Status Symbol and Productivity As Self Worth. It’s okay to rest and enjoy the process! 

Play and rest are an integral part of living a wholehearted life and are paramount to our well-being.

When is the last time you played for the sake of play? Deviating from our to do list can feel nerve wracking and uncomfortable, so we tell ourselves we are too busy to play, that it’s pointless, or it’s a waste of time.

According to Dr. Brown, the main barrier to adults in North America being able to rest and play is that exhaustion has become a status symbol and productivity has become a symbol of self-worth. I can personally relate to this as I once bought into this belief system that if I wasn’t busy and productive, I wasn’t worthy. I learned the hard way that if you do not allow time for both play and rest, you will eventually burn out.

You don’t need to feel lazy or unproductive when you prioritize play. In fact, it’s the opposite! You are prioritizing your health, energy, and experiences.

Take a few moments to think about what you find enjoyable, playful activities. Challenge yourself to become involved and engaged in what is going on all around you! 

Remember to ask yourself, “when things are going well in my life, what does that look like?” Those answers will help you to surround yourself with what feels good. Cultivating play and rest helps us create a wholehearted life. Tell me, how will you incorporate rest and play in your life today?

If you’d like to connect with these guideposts on a deeper level and find more personal support, don’t hesitate to reach out to me HERE. I would be honored to join you as you live a Wholehearted Life!