Let’s talk about rest, BABY. 

Let’s talk about you and me.

Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things…

Okay I literally only know that song thanks to Pitch Perfect, but it seemed fitting for the conversation my heart wants to open up about: rest + more.

Rest. More. Rest. More. Rest. More.

It’s like this never ending battle in my mind between what my heart and soul need and what I think I’m supposed to chase after.

Can you relate?

About a month ago, I knew I needed rest both mentally and physically, but I didn’t know what that could possibly look like or what it would even accomplish. So let me give you two scenarios that told me to stop “chasing more” and finally REST.

WE FOUND OUT OUR WILD FAMILY WAS GROWING

This summer was crazy bananas. I supported a client through the largest launch I think I’ll ever be a part of and felt both mentally and emotionally drained. Yet, inside my business I wasn’t feeling super passionate. Something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on it. It seemed like everyone around me was so excited to add this service or product, or create this course or podcast, and I was over here twiddling my thumbs wondering—why don’t I have the same “drive” to chase after more like they do?

There is so much talk of more in growing your business, but honestly, my heart didn’t want more. My heart felt smothered like a flower with no water.  Instead of more things, it needed to be watered in the here and now. And I don’t know about you, but my business brain often forgets the importance of being present.

On top of all those feelings, my body was physically exhausted. Whenever I tried bootcamp or running, I thought my legs were going to give out and the smell of coffee—don’t even get me started!

Call it a mix of stress exhaustion and the fact that our Wild family was growing and my body was screaming for rest.

We found out we were pregnant days before *said* launch and man did I try to keep it together, but August was a rough month. From the mix of supporting my client as best I could to physically needing naps in the middle of the day—life just felt out of control.

And the word rest continued to appear everywhere I turned.

When my big project wrapped up, I knew what I needed to do. I needed to rest.

So I did.

And let me tell you, it was hard. 

REST ISN’T EASY

When you hear the word rest you probably think it sounds like this magical unicorn of sitting around taking naps, reading books, and binge watching the latest-and-greatest Netflix series, but in all reality it was nothing like that.

I mentally struggled. I felt unproductive, lazy, and downright guilty, when in reality my mind, body, and soul needed an afternoon to just read a book.

There was this mindset within me that if I wasn’t busying myself with something, I was wasting the day. I truly believe our society teaches us this keep-up-with-the-Jones’ mentality kind of lifestyle that it makes us feel we need to always be busy.

I slowed down my business workload, but then busied myself with other tasks around the house. If I found there was time in my schedule to sit down and read a book, the entire time I would think about all the other things I should be doing instead.

It was this constant battle of needing to rest, but thinking I should do more.

LET GO OF THE WORD SHOULD

And then, day-by-day, I started to find myself letting go of the should dos and becoming completely content with the need to rest. I didn’t function my day off a to-do list and I started to feel a lot of peace with being in the moment.

With just being.

With existing.

With really tuning into who I am, what I need, and what God needs from me.

And I realized something.

I don’t have the passion for more, because that’s not where my heart is in this season. My values and goals changed the day we found out we were pregnant from chasing after worldly success to now creating a lifestyle to serve the people right here, right in front of me.

That includes my amazing husband, our future baby, myself, our family, close friends, my current clients and all of the commitments I’ve promised to give my time to. 

I think it’s so easy for us to get caught up in the hustle of our day-to-day that we don’t always see exactly what’s right in front of us and who needs us the most, because we’re always chasing more.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART

This season of rest showed me what my heart was trying to tell me for so long.

We don’t have to do everything. We don’t have to check off every to-do on our list. We don’t have to have the things we see others have. And we absolutely don’t have to please everyone [and yes, that’s coming from a BIG people pleaser herself].

All you need is to understand what exactly it is you need. Not what you should need. But what you actually need.

I don’t need a 6-figure business to be happy. But the noise of the creative industry about how you can make 6-figures made me feel guilty that I didn’t want the trade-offs that can come with hitting that milestone.

Instead, I realized my heart is most fulfilled when I’m serving my clients with all the energy I have reserved for them. And I feel most unfulfilled when I’m depleting myself and spreading my talents out to too many.

I’ve found the lifestyle I want for our family that hits our financial need AND allows me to be equal parts momma and equal parts business owner without feeling like I have to be inside my business all of the time.

THE VALUES THAT COME FROM REST

And honestly, finally understanding these big truths and values came from my time of rest.

It came from digging in when things didn’t feel great. From saying no to the wrong things. Taking a financial risk for a month even though shiny-object syndrome and FOMO almost made me take on even bigger projects instead of truly sitting in a season of rest. And it made me even more excited when October came to dig back in and give myself to the things I’ve committed to. 

The topic of rest is one I get so passionate about because it was so hard, but so rewarding once I worked through all of the emotions I was feeling. It wasn’t fun. It wasn’t full of books and naps [although baby made sure to tell me we needed more naps!] 

But I came out on the other side of this season feeling super passionate about things I had been putting to the side like: writing, working out consistently, having time at night to cook with my husband, and living our life based on our values—not the world’s values.

I’m beyond excited for what that means for my business in the months to come, but even more excited for what that means for this blog. Since the inception of Stay Wild Love it’s been all about business tips + tricks but you know what? Those things don’t fuel me.

What fuels me is encouraging others, spreading hope, and the passion for what God sets in my heart.

I plan on sharing more in the weeks ahead about the direction of this blog, but for now, I want to leave you with this.

Rest can be so good for your soul and thanks to my season of rest, I’ve decided to water the grass right where I am. How about you?