I’m continuing to engage with Richard Rudd and came across a distinction I hadn’t thought of before.
He says rest allows the physical body to recharge, but relaxation allows all of our subtle bodies to recharge as well. With his term subtle bodies, I believe he means aspects of ourselves like our mental health, emotional health, and spiritual health.
When I’m tired, I often first think of sleep. And sometimes more sleep is exactly what I need. I need to rest and let my physical body recharge. But I appreciate the distinction Richard Rudd has given me of also asking myself if I need relaxation more than I need rest.
Do I need to get outside in the sun for my mental health? Do I need to go on a hike and interact with nature for my emotional health? Do I need to unplug for an evening and sit around the fire pit and watch as the sky turns from day to dusk for my spiritual health? What exactly you need for each area of health will vary from mine, but I appreciate that Rudd has given us more language to help navigate when we are tired, sluggish, and heavy.
Psalm 23: 1-3 comes to mind when I think of this concept:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
I appreciate the phrase He refreshes my soul. God knew our bodies would physically tire and we would need rest, but sometimes our soul needs refreshing, too. And when sleep is not enough, perhaps we should try lying down in green pastures or going beside quiet waters.
So, if you are feeling exhausted, the answer may very well be that you need more rest. But, it may also be worthwhile to explore if your other subtle bodies need recharging as well and begin identifying what resonates for your subtle bodies to feel refreshed.
Warmly,
Kylie Larson, MA, LPC
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