Rest is not a Reward

It’s a simple idea. Probably one I’ve heard a hundred times. But the timing was right and this time when I read those words, they sunk in.

Rest is not a reward.

I think most of us live our lives with the idea that we earn a vacation. That we earn a relaxing weekend or a fun evening out. It’s certainly a message I was given time and time again. Work first and then play. Eat your vegetables and you can have desert. Work hard and then you will enjoy retirement.

It’s so familiar, you might even feel protective of this message. And I understand that, whole heartedly.

But for the sake of curiosity, what if we trusted ourselves to rest? What if we allowed rest to take up a space in our lives regardless of how productive we’ve been? What if rest was something we prioritized like drinking enough water, spending time with our families, or getting regular exercise? What if we rested when we were tired?

It’s been a few months since I made a commitment to rest. It’s not easy to do. I have felt guilt and anxiety when I rest instead of returning emails or unloading the dishwasher. But I have not regretted the rest I took. Not once.

I’d invite you to experiment with rest. What happens when you rest more?

“Calming allows us to rest, and resting is a precondition for healing. When animals in the forest get wounded, they find a place to lie down, and they rest completely for many days. They don't think about food or anything else. They just rest, and they get the healing they need. When we humans get sick, we just worry! We look for doctors and medicine, but we don't stop. Even when we go to the beach or the mountains for a vacation, we don't rest, and we come back more tired than before. We have to learn to rest. Lying down is not the only position for resting. During sitting or walking meditation, we can rest very well. Meditation does not have to be hard labor. Just allow your body and mind to rest like an animal in the forest. Don't struggle. There is no need to attain anything. I am writing a book, but I am not struggling. I am resting also. Please read in a joyful, yet restful way. The Buddha said, "My Dharma is the practice of non-practice." Practice in a way that does not tire you out, but gives your body, emotions, and consciousness a chance to rest. Our body and mind have the capacity to heal themselves if we allow them to rest.

Stopping, calming, and resting are preconditions for healing. If we cannot stop, the course of our destruction will just continue. The world needs healing. Individuals, communities, and nations need healing.”

―Thich Nhat Hanh,The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation