The quest for real rest

This article is an exploration of the deepest and most hidden end of the relaxation spectrum - radical relaxation. We might discover it becomes the most vital practice we have in our self-care toolbox to revive and recalibrate our entire being and liberate us from our pain. Radical relaxation could even become fundamental to ageing comfortably and gracefully and the beauty is, it doesn’t cost anything.

So how can relaxation be radical you might ask? Isn’t it just laid-back rest? Many people save up all their relaxation aspirations for their long-awaited annual holiday. The coveted getaway to indulge, guilt free in the leisurely pursuit of pleasure; like reclining on a comfy lounger by an infinity pool perhaps, sipping cocktails while lazily gazing at tropical sunsets? As a stopgap, for the yawning time in between, many might be found chilling on the sofa watching Netflix with a bottle of red and a bowl of chips. Indeed, some good old escapism certainly has value diverting us from our stressful working lives to something less arduous and comfortable, but it is not necessarily true relaxation that offers actual regenerative rest. That is because such undertakings are still an act of “doing” that engages our mind, our attention, our senses and even our bodily functions. They will not earn us the life-changing transformation and healing of true relaxation, where the goal is to give our self the rare experience of nothingness with no stimulation, no deadlines, no effort nor strain.

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