What Would Happen If You Just Stopped?

Many of us fall into the trap of believing that our worth is directly tied to our productivity. From a young age, we are conditioned to set ambitious goals, maximize our time, and "make something of ourselves." Achievement is celebrated, and busyness is often equated with success. While pursuing our goals is valuable, it’s easy to confuse what we do with who we are.

You’ve likely heard the saying, “We are human beings, not human doings.” But if we’re honest, just being, truly allowing ourselves to exist without the need for accomplishment, can feel deeply uncomfortable. I know this struggle firsthand. On the rare occasions I take a full day to rest, lounging in bed, reading, or simply existing, I find myself searching for justification, as if my worth is suddenly in question.

Why do we feel the need to validate rest? Why do we see everything else, our work, responsibilities, and commitments, as more important than caring for ourselves? The truth is, I often feel more powerful when I’m doing. Doing is active. Doing gives me a sense of control, while being can feel passive, even unproductive. And if there’s one thing I despise, it’s passivity!

But what if we’ve misunderstood rest? What if being is not passive at all, but rather one of the most active and intentional things we can do? True rest, allowing ourselves to exist without the pressure to prove anything, is an act of defiance in a world that glorifies hustle and grind. It’s an act of trust, a recognition that our worth is not earned through effort, but inherent in our existence.

Shifting the Narrative

Rest is not laziness. Stillness is not stagnation. Taking time to simply be does not make you less valuable. It makes you human. Learning to embrace stillness, to sit in our own presence without seeking validation from productivity, is a practice, one that requires intention and courage.

So, how do we begin shifting our mindset? Here are a few journaling prompts to explore:

• What does it mean to you to have worth simply by existing?

• Who are you beyond your accomplishments, titles, or professional roles?

• If you were to strip away the need to be “productive,” what would bring you joy?

• How does rest, or the lack of it, impact your well-being, creativity, and sense of self?

• What would it look like to embrace being as an essential part of your life, rather than something you have to justify?

  
  

As you reflect on these questions, I invite you to take a breath. Give yourself permission to slow down. You are enough, not because of what you do, but simply because you are.