Your Wise Brain

Practical insights into happiness, love, and wisdom from psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhism.

by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.

Rest, Unwind, Recharge

By Rick Hanson, Ph.D. on September 21, 2011 in Your Wise Brain

Tell the truth to yourself about how much time you actually - other than sleep - truly come to rest: not accomplishing anything, not planning anything, not going anywhere. The time when you don't do anything at all, with a sense of relaxation and ease. No stress, no pressure, nothing weighing on you in the back of your mind. No sense of things undone. Utterly at rest. Read More

thank you

Submitted by Karly on September 25, 2011 - 8:37pm.

Dear Rick,

Thank you for the gentle reminder to allow myself to be. This touched my heart this evening.

I notice a direct correlation between a lack of rest and my seeking out inferior, synthetic substitutes for rest - like buying something new I don't need, entertainment shopping, eating, gossiping, magazines, draining TV, email, internet surfing and more.

Rest - time in nature, time to breathe and turn inward, time in presence, time with a loved one (where I'm not trying to direct them, control their behavior or get them to eat their vegatables!!) - restores me in a way that these false sanctuaries never can. And not having time for rest creates a build up of inner tension in my body that I then try to dissipate with the drink, the food, the shopping, the fix, which further depletes me and creates a painful self perpetuating cycle.

Thank you Rick. Your blog posts remind me of what matters - my deepest intentions - and bring me back to this place, home.

In gratitude, Karly

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Resting

Submitted by Rick Hanson on September 27, 2011 - 10:54am.

Dear Karly,

I really appreciate your feedback, and you broadened my thinking with your comment about the link between lack of rest and seeking out problematic substitutes (e.g., "draining TV).

Here's to more rest!

Rick