Learning to Rest

Hi reader,

It has been some time since my last newsletter. To my current subscribers, thank you for your patience. And to my new subscribers, welcome, I’m glad you’re here.

I’ll share some updates and upcoming events in a bit, but first, I wanted to start with a story.

I had the joy of sitting with a friend on her back porch this past Sunday. We chatted and munched on blueberries. It was lovely.

At one point, I took a moment to really take it all in. The feeling of the sunlight on my face as it dappled through the trees. The buzzing of the cicadas. The brush of the wind as it ebbed and flowed.

In that moment, I was filled with a deep appreciation for nature and all that it provides without us having to ask.

I don’t know exactly when it happened, but a few moments later, I drifted off as my friend started to do some yard work.

It was the first time in a while that I gave myself permission to do that.

My phone was tucked away in my bag. My to-do list was forgotten for the moment. I let myself rest without needing to justify it.

I woke up just as my friend was finishing up, and my first thought was:

Oh. That’s what it feels like to rest.

It was about more than just sleep. My body had softened in a way that my mind does not always let me experience.

It was this feeling that I hope you experience when you join me for a sound journey.

Yesterday afternoon was a gentle reminder of how much taking a moment to simply exist—to be present—can offer us. And, perhaps unexpectedly, it was that experience that prompted me to get back to writing this newsletter.

For a long time, every time I sat down to write a new edition, I would stare at a blank screen for hours before closing my laptop and telling myself I would try again another day.

I now realize that what I thought was a lack of inspiration was actually a lack of rest.

I have been in a season where I needed to pause instead of push through.

It is hard to write, to create, when your being—mind, body, and soul—is asking for something else. Sometimes that something is play. Sometimes it is connection. Sometimes, as it was for me, it is simply rest. I’m glad I finally listened.

So, consider this your gentle reminder to listen for what your being is asking of you and, when you can, give yourself some of what you need.

It is so easy to get caught on the hamster wheel, attending to everyone else’s needs and moving from one thing to the next without stopping to notice what is happening within us.

When was the last time you let yourself genuinely rest?

When was the last time you did something simply because you enjoyed it?

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to be present for what was already happening around you?

Maybe that’s your invitation this month: to notice. To listen. To be.

Pulse

Check in with your capacity.

Before saying yes to something this week, pause and ask: Do I actually have the capacity for this? Taking the time to check in with yourself before saying yes to a request may save you from unnecessary stress. When we say yes out of obligation, guilt, or fear of disappointing someone, we are putting ourselves in the position of taking on more than we can actually handle. Giving yourself permission to check in with your own capacity before answering is not selfish - it’s an act of care - both for yourself and the commitments you’ve already made.

Presence

Create your own five-minute “porch moment”. Put your phone down and just be. No meditating or journaling necessary. Simply check in with your senses. What do you hear? How do you feel? You can practice this outside or indoors - wherever you feel most comfortable.

Reflection - What Do You Need?

Take a moment to ask yourself: what am I needing right now? Maybe it’s rest. Maybe it’s a phone call with your best friend, a slow morning in solitude, or a yoga class you’ve been wanting to attend. Resist the urge to judge your answer and see if you can listen without immediately turning that need into another item on your to-do list.

What’s Happening at Courageous Heart Wellness

Going forward, you can expect a new edition of this newsletter once a month. I’m also excited to share that my new website will be live soon!

You’ll be able to learn more about my approach to sound healing, purchase tickets for upcoming sound journeys, and reach out to book a private event.

For now, you can continue to purchase tickets here.

I’m excited for this new phase of Courageous Heart Wellness, and I’m endlessly grateful for your trust in me and for the ways you continue to show up and share space with me.

Upcoming Events

Sound & Soul: A Space for Reflection, Connection, and Renewal - Saturday, August 22^nd at 10am

Monthly Unwind: An Evening of Sound and Stillness - Monday, August 31^st at 6pm

For Someone Who Could Use a Breath, Too

If this landed gently for you today, maybe it’ll land gently for someone else in your life. You can forward this note to a friend who might need a little reminder that rest is allowed.

Your breath is your rhythm. Your body is your home. You are already enough.

Until next time,
Stacey
Courageous Heart Wellness

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