The Power of Pause: Rest Sis! By: Yasmin Philor

The Power of Pause: Rest Sis! By: Yasmin Philor

Genesis 2:2-And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Have you ever spoken on FaceTime with someone and they were doing everything except focusing on you? There are times that I'm on FaceTime making dinner, feeding my little guy, cleaning the house, watching television, and when I finally look at the phone Pause comes across the screen. I personally hate this, especially because I feel like the person is being attentive. However, during that time of Pause that individual is most likely taking a minute to pause or stop the conversation and handle something else. Although there are pros to multitasking (learning to deal with distractions) some cons include:

• Interruptions – a ringing phone, the chime of an instant message – makes it difficult to come back to the original task at hand.
• Multitasking can be busywork—that results in accomplishing nothing.
• Non-stop distractions often lead to frustration and loss of attention. Instead of accomplishing many things, very little gets done.
• Technology takes away from basic and practical skills.
• Act of switching between two things actually takes longer mentally. Our brain assigns rules to how we do something and switching between tasks means closing one set of rules and opening another.

Another way to view a pause is to rest. Rest means to: cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

In this text, God is speaking about the importance of resting and taking a break for yourself once your work (earthly) is done. When I read this text I immediately thought about myself and other women who are always on the move taking care of our careers, husbands/partners, children, family, friends, etc., but what about you? Are you okay with taking care of everyone else at the expense of depleting yourself whether physically, mentally, or emotionally? I also asked myself why do I and other women feel the need to get things done right now, immediately. Perhaps it's societies push on what we as women "should be doing" like taking care of the house, your children and if you don't do those things and well, then your ability to carry out the "duties" of a woman. I'm challenging both men and women, but especially women, to take away these three things:

1. You determine if you need rest. You are the personhood within your body. Only you can feel the aches, pains, headaches, emotions etc. Don't allow someone to guilt or manipulate you into doing something that they think or want you to do. Transparent moment, I am a first-time mom of a beautiful 4-month old. I am TIED, not tired, I'm tied. I am also married to a hardworking handsome husband. My perception of a wife and mother consists of keeping a clean house, clothes folded the same day that it's washed, food made, bottles cleaned, etc. I've had many beautiful women, mothers who mean well say, "Don't say you need rest or a break. You're a woman." My response, "and that means what." Don't allow others to define if you need rest.
2.  You determine how you take the rest. Rest doesn't have to be extravagant. If you have to cancel your plans, save that assignment for another day, get a babysitter, or even turn your phone off to do it and do it without regret. Rest can be taking a walk, going to therapy, talking to a trusted friend, journaling, engaging in a fun hobby, drinking a cup of tea, exercise, listen to music, or do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ALONE. Rest can be as simple as regrouping and developing a plan. You may not be able to take a full day of rest, but small moments of rest can help you to cultivate, develop, and implement this into your lifestyle. 
3. Your rest is not just for you. When you rest and take time for yourself and become rejuvenated. Being rejuvenated allows you to effectively return to your other roles in life, whether as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, career woman, etc.

When we pause and allow ourselves to rest we can:

Create curling irons like Madame CJ Walker.

Define who you are outside of your husband like Michelle Obama.

Entertain like Beyoncé.

Write a script like Ava DuVernay.

Play a part so well that your snot deserves an Oscar like Viola Davis.

Own a Network like Oprah Winfrey.

Defy the odds like Taraji P. Henson.

Free slaves like Harriet Tubman.

Be a Civil Rights Activist like Maya Angelou.

And..... Have time to follow your dreams so the next generation can say I want to be like (insert your name here).

It's Women's History Month. Don't forget to pause, reflect, and take time for yourself Sis; so you’re rejuvenated to make your own history. You deserve it!

Leaps & Turns,

Yasmin D. Philor 

@krushinon_you