On the Seventh Day, God rested………

Image - Psalm 116:7

I trust that you are taking time to eat well, drink responsibly, sleep and recuperate from life’s ever hectic schedule. I always say if our ancestors were to be given of glimpse of how fast and furious the world has become, they would die a second death. Our fore fathers had an idea of how God intended us to live. They preserved earth , lived mindfully, and only consumed what was enough for them. Frugality was their signature. Today we are so engrossed in amassing earthly treasures that we may never use, in the process , bleeding poor earth , harming ourselves and those around us. And we think rest is a huge loss.

When God created heaven and earth , it took Him six days. He created man last and rested on the seventh day. Having done that, God commanded man to rest after labouring for six days. God pioneered rest as a vital aspect for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, a closer relationship with Him , improved mood and even a better metabolism!.

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us of the “Vanity of vanities”, reaffirming that life is for living, enjoying, resting and eventually departing with nothing. Vanity can easily take over wisdom and even common sense. We are always reminded to remember that .

Robin Sharma in his book ,”The Monk who sold his Ferrari” depicts an almost tragic awakening in the life of a lawyer who neglected to live life,choosing to drown himself in the pool of a successful legal career with abundant wealth , mansions, expensive cars and women. At the end, he realised the true meaning of life after collapsing in court due to exhaustion. It was then that he sold his precious possessions in in search for meaning, mindfulness and self awareness. Julian chose to re-align himself to spiritual purpose rather than materialism.

Image: The Monk

We have heard of so many unfortunate incidences where celebrities and prominent figures whose lives have been cut short in the midst of chasing fame and glory. Michael Jackson, who became a celebrity before the age of five, suffered perennial depression due to the pressures of his occupation. His end was tragic, may his dear soul continue to rest in eternal peace. A famous German jazz singer, Roger Cicero (45) died of a stroke caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Tom Simpson, British cyclist, died during the 1967 Tour de France due to exhaustion/amphetamine use. Kanye West had to cancel a string of live shows during his St Pablo tour in 2016 due to exhaustion. Whitney Houston resorted to drug use and exhaustion saw her performing dismally on stage at several shows during her lifetime.She had a a tragic ending too.

Rest is not wasteful, neither is it idle. Fortunately our bodies have a way of communicating when they need a break! It is good to listen to our bodies when they have had enough of us chasing vanity. The world has seen the emergence of religious groups that discourage materialism and promote spiritual dimensions. There are alway radical movements that have fleeced unsuspecting congregants of their hard earned wealth.

Sufism is one religion with an inward,mystical, and spiritual dimension of Islam. It discourages worldly attachments, encouraging purification of heart to experience exceptional proximity with the Creator.Its said that a tourist once visited a Sufi ad was astonished to see that his home only had his mat and a kerosene lamp. When the tourist asked the Sufi where his furniture was, he also enquired the same. The tourist replied that he was only a visitor. The Sufi also responded,”So am l”.

Image: A Sufi meditating.

Rest comes in different forms and no one size fits all. There are several types of rest needed by each and every one of us. Forget the action movie stars and life style, no one is a super hero and rest you must!

Mental Rest - Mental health has become a topical issue across ages and jurisdiction. Once dubbed as ‘madness’ or demonic as depicted in the biblical Legion,the world has woken up to the sanity that it’s a disease deserving proper health care. Its toll is witnessed in the proliferation of drug and substance abuse. Mental rest implies taking a break from thinking. Yes, thinking can be exhausting and breaks must be taken from this habit. Some meditate , do yoga or gentle exercises like tai chi or nature baths to rest the mind.

Sensory Rest - Sensory rest requires us to unplug from screens and gadgets. We must enjoy some quiet time away from the lights, sounds, screens which often result in mental fatigue. The nervous system is critical to our overall health so sensory rest is mandatory.

Emotional rest - our cognitive function, relationships and even resilience all depend on healthy emotional rest. Human nature is complex but difficult as it may, we must practice effective communication which comes with good emotional rest. If you have to take breaks from people do so. If you have to say No! Let it be! Setting boundaries means you can be emotionally at peace whilst maintaining good relationships with family and friends. BE true to your feelings and say No when you are tired.

Social Rest - Have you ever realised that some buddies are inseparable. And there are some few who enjoy their own company.No matter the numbers, , birds of a feather will always flock together. Find your tribe and make memories . Social rest reaffirms authenticity. It entails taking a break to socialise with trusted friends or family unabated. Such associations help to unwind the brain, boosts mental health and replenishes your energy. So keep those connections healthy and consistent, it’s good therapy. Good therapy also entails maintaining a distance from the energy drainers.

Spiritual Rest - Spiritual rest is not only divine but its what makes us tick. We try by all means to make our children understand spirituality and submit to God’s will. Did you hear the story of a mother who was trying to teach her children about the side effects of whiskey? She filled two glasses,one with water and the other with whiskey. She then threw live worms in each glass, and so died the one in the whiskey. Feeling excited that she had made her point, the mum asked the children what lessons they drew from the experiment. The girl responded,”If l drink whiskey, I wont get worms!”. The mum immediately took a much needed spiritual break !!

The Spiritual journey itself is a a complex experience which every individual assimilates differently.

The monk who ended up selling his Ferrari set on a journey to find clarity and purpose life. He only found that deep in the Himalayan mountains, where he absorbed the rich wisdom passed down from one generation to another amongst the sages of Sivana. This type of rest requires us to deliberately create serene environments to ensure that we enjoy that time alone with God . When God spoke to the prophet Elijah, He did so in a gentle whisper opposed to the wind , earthquake or fire. Spiritual lessons drawn from this masterpiece entail pursuing our successes without attachment. Take time to enjoy the simple things in life and alway remember to connect spiritually to rediscover and restore your mind , body and soul. Embrace the present and aspire to live in the moment. Be grounded and be spiritually well.

Physical Rest - The above types of rest all point to rest in the physical sense. To rest physically is to put a stop to activities that drain our strength. It helps to restore our energy and body’s functionality. Physical rest may be effective through extended hours of sleep and minimising movements that starve the body of the much needed rest. Jesus had a very healthy routine where he would go into deep sleep even during the day. So flexible was his system that when he needed to keep watch and pray at midnight, he did it better than the disciples. We read about his disciples becoming frantic during a terrible storm whilst the master took a nap. And as he awoke to the chaos, he responded with amazing calmness , commanding the storm to be still. That was it !

How can we introduce effective rest and relaxation tips ?

As illustrated above, if left untreated, long-term stress can cause irreversible health complications. These include headaches, digestive issues, anxiety, depression, chest pain , changes in sexual desire and diminished cognitive functioning to focus. There are quite a number of advantages to daily rest and relaxation:

• reduced stress and anxiety

• improved mood

• decreased blood pressure

• chronic pain relief

• improved immune health

• stronger cardiovascular system

It’s our duty to ensure that we identify resting techniques that best suit our lifestyles. For me, gardening brings great pleasure. I keep seeds for replanting. Others rest through meditating, practicing yoga, walking outside, listening to music, reading a book, taking a bath or any combination of these and more!. When planning out your daily routine, find a consistent time to rest. For example, you could Taking a relaxing lavender bath before bed calms the body, mind and soul.

Try to practice meditation each morning. You tube has many videos on this. Short walks during your lunch break at work also boost your health and promote good digestion. For goodness sake , do take a mandatory technology break once a week. Go offline and get into nature, talk to neighbours or simply catch a nap.

For the workplace, employee focus and cognitive functioning depends on the working environment. I recall visiting Google Headquarters in New York where we toured the office facilities.

Image: Google offices New York

Google’s comprehensive employee wellness program, designed to boost productivity and employee satisfaction, focuses on physical, mental, and emotional health through on-site amenities and benefits. Key offerings include on-site fitness centers, nutritious meals, mental health support (e.g., therapists, meditation), and generous, flexible work arrangements. The employees can rest whenever needed to boost productivity.

Rest is not quitting. Rest is not laziness. It’s a Godly command for all creation to revive, reboot and rejuvenate. It is my desire that this year will be different from others as you deliberately take steps to become a better you.

Happy resting!

Disclaimer

This article intends to share with readers research backed types and advantages of rest. The information shared is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Dr Precious Sibiya , is a certified Wellness Practitioner, stroke survivor and advocate for natural healing and lifestyle. Contact her for more Wellness insights on

Email : precioussibiya2014@gmail.com

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