The Purpose of Retreats

Why we should work from our rest

I remember hearing and saying, “I need to rest.” Usually, it is because I was working so much, too hard, or failing to see that I truly needed rest. Eventually, I learned that resting fixed quite a few of my problems.

Tired.

Grumpy.

Lack of focus.

Zero Motivation

Imposter Syndrome.

By the way, vacations did not work for me simply because I had to work to make the vacation happen, keep everyone happy during the time and schedule recovery day between coming home and starting up work again.

Then I read: We do not rest from work; We work from our rest.

This perspective shift altered my reality. I started to see myself differently, by asking myself what do I have the energy to do? I then gave myself the permission to rest first and rest well* so that when the time came, I had as much and more energy to win.

After adopting this more natural rhythm of life, I wondered if I was giving myself a cheap pass to ignore tasks, checklists and doomsday deadlines because I wasn’t rested. As it turns out, the world doesn’t care if I am rested - it still sends bills, taxes and people still expect you to show up to work.

In short, the work will always be there for us. But what we can do today is set up our lives so that we rest and rest well* before the work begins. Then we can work well from our well rest. This thinking will serve you better. And when you master it, you will notice compounded energy that you previously invested arrive to your mind and body which allows you to take more risks in your work.

Continue to work work work work and squeeze in low quality rest at the end of your day, or learn to supply yourself with the rest you need for the work ahead. Then the satisfaction of working well from resting well rewards you to act in faith and rest.

;) How does this relate to Dungeons and Dragons? We ran our first ever youth retreat for the weekend while playing this wonderful game, doing lots of creative activities and exercises. Also, the youth rested. No phones. No worries. Just play and rest. What I found is that REST in itself is a rhythm we must honor if we want to experience fullness of life. This retreat worked because it kept the youth from opening any new loops or closing old ones.

Enjoy your rest and may your story continue,

Jonathan

*resting well means eating high quality food, sleeping in the dark without electronics, having only peace in your bedroom (argue on the front porch like normal people), avoiding phone scrolling during rest periods, taking vitamin and mineral supplements, keeping loops open or closed during rest (don’t commit or finish any projects during rest).