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The guilt of rest

Rest should feel natural. So should moving at your own pace. But for many of us, both come with guilt.

When things slow down, when life isn’t rushing, when progress isn’t visible, when days feel quieter; we start feeling uneasy. As if slowing down means we are falling behind. As if speed itself has become a measure of worth.

We live in a world that praises fast growth, quick results, and constant movement. Doing more is admired. Doing it faster is celebrated.

So when life moves slowly; when plans take time, when healing isn’t instant, when success doesn’t arrive on schedule - we feel uncomfortable. We start blaming ourselves for a pace we often don’t control.

The guilt of rest and the guilt of slowness come from the same place. They come from the belief that we must always be progressing visibly to be valid. We rest, but feel we should be doing something. We move slowly, but feel we should be running.

Slow days feel unproductive. Quiet phases feel unnecessary. Breaks feel undeserved. 

Even when we are doing our best, the mind whispers, “Others are moving ahead.” “You should be doing more.” “Why is it taking you so long?” And slowly, patience turns into self-doubt.

But not everything in life grows fast. Some things need time; understanding, confidence, healing, clarity.

Seeds don’t feel guilty for taking time to grow. But humans do. We forget that not all progress is visible. Not all effort shows results immediately. Not all slow phases mean stagnation.

Going slow is not failing. It is often adjusting. Learning. Recovering. Rest is not stopping life. It is preparing for it.

When we deny ourselves rest and patience, the body and mind push back; through exhaustion, through burnout, through loss of motivation.

You are allowed to move slowly. You are allowed to pause. You are allowed to have phases where nothing big happens. Your worth does not reduce when your pace does. Your value does not depend on speed.

In a world that is always rushing, choosing to slow down and rest is not weakness. It is awareness, it is care, it is choosing to stay human.

And that choice deserves kindness, not guilt.

Wishing you a great day.

Thank you :)

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