The art of pampering and relaxation goes beyond the physical.  A total and complete sense of peace requires pampering the inside as much as it does the the outside.  I asked a good friend, Candice Selby, to share a message with everyone about makign time for yourself in order for us all to work on maintaining our mental and emotional well being as much as we focus on our physical well being. Candice’s goal, like my own, is to encourage women to live life to it’s fullest potential and “nurture their bodies and minds by going back to the basics.”

I have been trying to play with the cards I have been dealt and choices made over the past few years and feel like I have worked diligently since then, on just about everything–my career, my goals, my mind, my body, my finances, my spirit, my relationships – everything. Despite all of the obstacles and turmoil, I have had the most amazing year of my entire life. I am on my way to achieving my goals and I know that I am blessed in ways I cannot even articulate but, I’m tired. The call to be excellent and to make the steps necessary towards a meaningful life can leave us spent sometimes.

Some days I felt so empowered and motivated, while on other days I felt as though I had no more energy to fight to make things better. One night I was in bed meditating when everything just hit me all at once.  I was physically, emotionally and spiritually drained and it brought me to tears. I realized that I had to get still so I could hear God. When I did, He said to me, “My child, you are simply weary. Rest for a while, and I will give you strength to continue pressing toward the mark. You are on the right path; you’re just tired, and that’s ok.” I began to weep silently because that’s what it was. I WAS tired…just mentally needing rest. And the more profound thing was that it was perfectly fine.

In the past, I’ve been the type to beat myself up for being tired – as if I’m a robot running on batteries who should never need to be replenished and rejuvenated. Saying things like “The clock doesn’t stop” or “Gotta keep moving” but this POV did not serve the greater good of my life. I eventually learned that it’s ok for some of the things on my to-do list to be unchecked! The world won’t end if I take a break. I mean, yes, I am superwoman, but it’s never too late to save the day. This attitude of pressing forward, ignoring pain and fatigue, would not make things any better for me. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience; to ignore that the spirit needs rest is to set one’s self up for a fall.

It’s ok to be tired. I know people need you, and I know you have responsibilities and bills, and children and significant others and parents and siblings and school and work and church and community work and personal goals and weight loss goals and things that simply have to be done, but be KIND to yourself. Give yourself mental and emotional rest. You have to learn to pace yourself.  This includes pacing the acquisition of material things, pacing relationships and other important decisions when you see that it is necessary. You don’t have to win the race tomorrow. All you have to give is more than enough. Do your best; it isn’t necessary to do more than you can.

Rest when you need to and trust that by honoring your own needs, you are demonstrating self-love which will in turn increase your ability to love others and give to others. Treat yourself the way you would your very best friend because you are truly all you have. God has not given you a burning desire to succeed and be prosperous for you to be burnt out! Be tired, rest, and then begin again with joy, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Candice and I would both Love for you to share your thoughts on this subject.  What makes you tired? Do you realize when you’re tired? What do you do do about it?