Practising Self-Validation

You Don’t Need to Earn Rest

The lie we’ve been sold about rest

From an early age, many of us are taught — directly or indirectly — that rest has to be earned. We’re told to finish our chores before we can play, to complete our homework before we can relax, to “deserve” a break only after ticking enough boxes.

This conditioning doesn’t vanish when we grow up. It follows us into adulthood and the workplace. We feel guilty taking a lunch break if our inbox is full. We can’t enjoy a weekend unless every loose end is tied up. And when life throws us off course, we double down, trying to “catch up” before we allow ourselves to pause.

But here’s the truth: rest is not a reward. It’s a basic human need. You don’t have to earn it. And one of the most powerful ways to start believing this — and living it — is through self-validation.

Photo by Aleksandar Cvetanovic on Unsplash