7 Types of Rest: Emotional Rest
For the next seven days we’ll be talking about the seven different types of rest and why you might be struggling even though “you’re taking care of yourself.”
Author Saundra Dalton-Smith outlines each in her book, “Sacred Rest.” There’s creative, mental, emotional, social, sensory, spiritual and physical rest, all of which serve a different purpose in your self-care toolkit.
Let’s dive into Emotional Rest here.
Dalton Smith defines EMOTIONAL REST as the freedom to authentically express feelings and eliminate people-pleasing behaviors.
What better time to evaluate this than now?
This quick 10-point quiz gives you a better sense of where you fall in the people-pleasing scale. Give yourself 1 point for every YES. (Adapted from The Disease to Please by Dr. Harriet Braiker)
I can't really take the time to relax until I finish all the things I have to do.
It is very difficult for me to turn down a request from a friend, family member or coworker.
My sense of identity is based on what I do for other people.
I very seldom say "no" to anyone who needs my help or wants me to do a favor.
On a daily basis, I almost never really feel satisfied with how much I have accomplished.
I am often so depleted by taking care of others that I have no time or energy left to enjoy my own life. I
would feel guilty if I took time to relax or just to do something pleasurable for myself.
I believe that nobody would really care about me if I stopped doing all the things I now do for others.
I almost never ask anybody to do things for me.
I often say "yes" when I would like to say "no" to requests from others.
How to Interpret Your Answers
If your score is between 7 and 10: You place a higher priority on pleasing others than on trying to take care of yourself. Let this self-awareness nudge you toward stronger boundaries and a more assertive approach to life. You deserve the same consideration that you give to everyone else, if for no other reason than you’ve earned it.
If your score is between 4 and 6: You should keep a careful watch to make certain you don't lose your footing on the slippery slope of niceness. You are not saying "no" to others often or selectively enough.
If your score is 3 or less: You have already figured out some of the solutions to becoming a recovered people-pleaser. Build on your strengths to say "no" and keep your own needs in balance with those of others.
Were you surprised by your results?
More from the REST series:
