Sacred Rest
by
Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D.
Do you pride yourself in busyness? Do you push yourself to the limit? Sadly, our society practically demands it. Resting is undervalued and even considered lazy or wasted time. Time—we need more of it, don’t we? That is the lie of multitasking, says author and physician Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. If you had more time, what would do with it? Most of us would do more, not rest more. Dr. Dalton-Smith says rest is not optional if you want to “recover your life, renew your energy, and restore your sanity.”
Signs you may have a rest deficit:
- Lack of energy
- Trouble falling asleep at night even though you’re tired
- Frequent muscle pain and soreness
- Depending on substances (like caffeine) to give you more energy
These are just a few of the physical symptoms. There are many more signs in seven different areas of our lives: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative. Dr. Dalton-Smith explains each type and gives practical advice on how to rest and restore ourselves in each area.
Staying busy is easy. Staying well rested – now there's a challenge. @DrDaltonSmith #SacredRest #TheHeartoftheAuthor #podcast Click To Tweet
First of all, understand what rest is and what it isn’t. You may think you need more sleep, and maybe you do. But sleep is not rest. Sleep is passive while rest is conscious and focused. It’s not vegging in front of the TV mindlessly, and it doesn’t need to take a lot of time. It’s a state of mind that you choose to focus on throughout the day. Dr. Dalton-Smith suggests creating a “mental sanctuary.” Choose a characteristic of God to focus on each day (such as love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, or faithfulness). Then make that characteristic the mental place you return to throughout the day. By doing so, you clear your mind from the noise and chatter that wears you out.
Listen to the podcast as Vickie and Jasa discuss the book in more detail and share their own stories and insights.
