Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind podcast, where we’re learning how to be happier by working with our minds. Come to iintendtobehappy.com to get some wonderful information about how I can help you become happier.
The Culture of Exhaustion
We live in a world that glorifies the grind.
- Productivity is treated like moral currency.
- Exhaustion is worn like a badge of honor.
We are praised for pushing through, for staying busy, for squeezing more out of every moment.
And in the rush to accomplish, to prove, to stay relevant, we forget how to rest—not just sleep, not just collapsing at the end of a too-long day, but real, soul-deep rest.
The kind of rest that doesn’t apologize for itself.
Rest Is Not Laziness
Somewhere along the way, rest became synonymous with laziness.
Stillness became a sign of weakness.
The simple act of doing nothing began to carry the weight of guilt.
But here’s what we have to remember:
Rest is not a reward.
It’s not something you earn after you’ve finished everything.
Rest is a right.
It’s a necessity.
It’s a form of resistance in a world that tells you your worth is measured by your output.
To rest is not to waste time.
It’s to remember that you’re a living being—not a machine.
Your nervous system needs pause.
Your mind needs stillness.
Your heart needs space to soften.
Rest is how we return to ourselves.
The Sacredness of Stillness
There’s something sacred about lying on the grass,
Watching the clouds move,
Listening to the hum of the water or the wind.
These aren’t acts of avoidance.
They’re acts of reconnection.
They’re acts of remembering what it means to belong—
To the earth,
To the breath,
To this moment.
Nature Rests—and So Should We
Nature rests in cycles.
- The tide goes out.
- The moon goes dark.
- Trees sleep through winter.
Rest isn’t against life—it’s built into life.
We’ve just forgotten how to trust it.
Rest Isn’t Indulgent—It’s Revolutionary
In today’s world, rest feels indulgent because we live in a society that rewards overwork.
We measure our value by our busyness.
We feel ashamed when we aren’t producing, achieving, ticking off the next box.
We look around and see others hustling and think, I should be doing more.
But the guilt we feel around rest isn’t natural.
It’s learned.
It’s a byproduct of a culture that teaches us to disconnect from our own needs in the name of productivity.
You Are Not Lazy—You Are Human
You are not lazy for needing rest.
You are not falling behind.
You are not doing life wrong.
You are human.
And rest is what makes it possible to keep going.
To choose rest in a world that constantly demands productivity is an act of rebellion.
Especially for those whose ancestors were denied rest.
For those whose labor has been exploited.
For those whose bodies have always been expected to carry more.
Rest becomes a reclamation.
A declaration:
I don’t exist solely to produce.
My worth is not tied to what I get done today.
I’m allowed to be still.
Rest Is Resistance
Rest is how we begin to undo the lies of:
- Capitalism
- White supremacy
- Burnout culture
When you rest, you’re not stepping away from life.
You’re stepping into the part of life that fuels all the rest.
- Creativity flows from rest.
- Insight comes from stillness.
- Healing begins when we’re quiet.
You can’t serve, lead, love, or create from an empty vessel.
You can’t show up for others if you’re constantly abandoning yourself.
You Don’t Need a Justification
Let this be a reminder:
You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to pause.
You are allowed to lie on the grass and watch the clouds move—
Without a single justification.
Not because you’ve earned it.
Not because you’ve crossed everything off your list.
But because you are alive—and aliveness deserves care.
Rest Without Guilt
Rest without guilt.
Rest is nourishment.
Rest because your body, your mind, and your spirit are worthy of being tended to.
The world will keep spinning.
The emails can wait.
The to-do list will never be done.
But your soul?
Your soul is asking for a moment of stillness.
So listen to it.
Trust it.
You are not behind. You are allowed to rest.
I hope this has been helpful. Don’t forget, if you want to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com. I’d love to help you get happier.
As always, this is Monique Rhodes.
Be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
