Resting and Guilt: The Little Voices in Your Head & What to Do With Them

You don’t need to do something productive to deserve rest.

I used to feel so guilty for resting. The day I didn’t exercise or the afternoon I spent watching a movie on my couch (and on a sunny day no less!) was the day I dubbed myself a lazy low level loser. (Usually worded a bit more *rude* than that but let’s not put that energy out there am I right?)

I couldn’t even enjoy the rest I was attempting because this voice kept forcing itself into my space. It was like a Lieutenant Dan type but without the redeeming qualities and he’s standing over me shouting about my lack of responsibility. It’s been 5 minutes buddy let me close my eyes, jesus.

These voices are relentless and really killin’ the vibe.

I’m here to remind you that they aren’t helping you anymore. We think it’s motivating but it’s charging us out of fear— we get a lot less done from that place.

That *rude* self talk still comes up for me on occasion, but it’s shrinking in superiority & frequency as we speak.

How do we shrink it?

I do this for myself and with my clients by acknowledging what we’re hearing, investigating where we picked it up in life (usually self protection/defense from hurt) and then personifying it— turning them into funny characters or tiny gremlin boys to separate their lies from your truth.

Sounds silly because it is. The voice telling you you’re a piece of shit for resting your eyes for 20 minutes, is silly. So we kill it’s power and put us back in ours.

My truth is that taking care of myself does not need to be linked to showing up or being productive (although it always ends up doing so by proxy).

I rest to rest and you can too. Not because you deserve it or did “enough” to reward yourself with rest. You get to because you’re alive and us humans really need that.

Be a good human, and let yourself rest. Send the lieutenants on their way and be. Guilt free.

#goldwavecoaching #lifecoach #sabateurs #gremlins #negativeselftalk #rest #productivity #selfcare #worthiness #healing