Realms of Rest
‘Roaming’, 35mm film © Flory Huang, 2020.
As fior di latte is a base to gelato, there are 4 major components that shape the ways (and depths) we get radically rested.
Whether I’m reflecting on the last decade or just this past 8 and a half months surreal and painfully clarifying 2020, a prominent set of systems have consistently continued to emerge as I myself practice the embodiment, exploration and experience of real rest while supporting others to do the same. Sorry not sorry: rest is deep work that can’t be hacked. Like we examined last week, our rest is human as we are. Hello, multitudes.
In any practices, consistency is essential. A stark and relevant example we can presently reflect on: the huge collective reach towards mindfulness and mental health in the midst of COVID-19. Nothing like experiential learning to demystify former conceptions, amirite? There was an online surge during the first shelter-in-place periods when we undeniably faced our personal access, or lack of, to mindfulness and caring for mental health. Without the escapes of distractions, all we had left to connect with each other were these keypads, microphones, cameras and screens. In line with historic human nature, for many this was an awakening in the face of crisis; a reprioritization provoked by the visceral drive to survive. Severe… and important. (The Buddhist teaching comes to mind about how, “we enter The Stream in different times and places.”) On the opposite side of this spectrum’s crisis and emergency, there are also alternatives which are just as effective, to work with ourselves as we prioritize and normalize resting. Together. Fortunately, these considerations turn down the dial on urgency and turn up the dial of more enablement-through-choice-and-agency. Pretty sure we all feel way better about the decisions we make for ourselves while undistracted and unthreatened. Right?
Being radically rested is the set up for the show up: who are you when you’re grounded, calm, focused and confidently (thus comfortably) embodied? Our community care constantly shows us where we can continue to elevate each other forward to more meaningful collaboration, transformation, liberation and exuberation. At the same time, we are able to ultimately be resourced to powerfully resist and dismantle systems of oppression for reformation in integrity and equity for all humxns, inclusive of all identities, bodies and abilities— sustainably for the long run. This is the whole point of wellness (in contrast to individualism and excessive consumption that currently uphold systems of oppression). When we are all well, we enable connections of all forms time and time again.
Truly thriving has many personal byproducts that create victorious cycles:
eliminating self-harm in burnout
rejecting capitalistic grind culture that glamorizes working and productivity at the cost of the whole human
decolonizing our minds to recognize socio-economic symbiosis (which has always been possible, it just takes uncompromisingly choosing people over profit)
operating with intersectionality rather than oppressive intellectualization that has historically deemed business as ‘masculine’ and ‘rational’ in binary
ending the horrific impact of white supremacy and colonial racism costing thousands of lives by the minute…
It all starts within us, and that’s just the beginning. Though it isn’t always easy.
Remember in one of my first blog posts when I said that rest is not only getting our hours of sleep every night or Netflixing outside of work hours? As a Personal Rest Guide (also known as burnout coach), the following components are what I’m naming at The Rested Revolution as the Realms in Rest. These systems are imperative for real rest and holistic health. Over the past decade, these threads have continuously been present time and time again in my own lived experience and for those around me, within my personal communities and previous holistic healthcare clients. These realms are universal to us as humans, and uniquely expansive person-to-person. May we continue to reside compassionately and bravely in our multifaceted selves.
Self-awareness
Neurophysiology
Mindfulness
Energetics
On the docket for in August: we’ll be diving deeper in the next weeks as we approach the last quarter of the year. Specifically getting more familiar which meanings of embodying, exploring and experiencing self-awareness, mindfulness, neurophysiology and energetics and why these are The Rested Revolution’s foundational Realms of Rest. Naturally, we’ll also be confronting misconceptions and uncomfortable truths. Let me know:
Which of these realms are you the least familiar with?
Which of these realms are you most excited/hesitant to explore?
ICYMI: I’m also opening 1-on-1 offerings to the public! We work together honoring these very components in intuitive coaching and treatments. Whether you’re tired of being tired or are ready to end the vicious cycle of burnout, The Rested Revolution community and I are here to get rested with you. RSVP below to learn more! The first updates and access are being shared with the community soon.
