There’s been a subtle shift in the way many of us are moving through the world lately.
I felt it even more clearly as I just got home from my DreamQuest Mastermind retreat in sunny South Florida (well, mostly sunny…but also quite chilly for Florida!!).
Being away from my usual rhythm, surrounded by beauty, sunshine, and spaciousness, has a way of revealing what’s really been happening beneath the surface.
And what I noticed, both in myself and in so many of those who joined the retreat, is this shared tenderness around rest.
For many of us, rest brings up an unexpected question—Is it really OK to pause? When we slow down, an old reflex can surface, whispering that we should be doing something, producing something, proving something.
You might notice it in the way your breath shortens without warning, or how quiet moments don’t always feel as restful as they once did. Sometimes stillness itself can feel uncomfortable, or even unsafe.
Maybe you catch yourself briefly resting and then you immediately think, “Oh no! What will happen now? When is the next shoe going to drop?” And just like that, the moment of quiet slips away.
Our bodies are deeply intelligent. They are always reading the room, sensing what’s needed, adjusting in ways meant to keep us safe and steady. When life feels uncertain or emotionally full, the body often stays alert a little longer, listening closely for what’s next. It’s just how we’re made.
For many people, this means that quiet hasn’t felt neutral in a long time. Silence can feel unfamiliar. Stillness can feel like something you’re supposed to endure rather than enjoy. The body, having learned to stay ready, may not yet recognize that it’s safe to soften.
So how do we gently teach our bodies that rest is allowed again?
First, I’d invite you to stop trying to relax. Have you ever been really upset and someone tells you to just “calm down” …and thought, “Oh my gosh, thank you, I’m cured!!”
Yeah. Me neither. 😄
In fact, if anything, that phrase has a magical way of doing the exact opposite. Suddenly you’re not only dysregulated, you’re also irritated, defensive, and mentally drafting a resignation letter from the relationship.
So instead of asking your body to relax, we start by asking something much kinder:
What would help me feel just a little more supported right now?
Here are three inspired ways to begin.
- Offer your body small, consistent signals of safety.
The body learns through experience. A few conscious breaths. A hand resting on your heart or belly. Or something I often do myself and shared in my book, The Art of Manifesting—simple, unstructured doodling. Just letting the hand move while the body settles. When the hands are gently occupied, the nervous system often feels less on guard. These small moments build trust over time and remind the body that support is present. - Gently arrive in the moment through your senses.
Presence doesn’t have to be still or silent. It can be tactile, visual, and playful. As you doodle, notice the feeling of the pen on paper. The colors you’re drawn to. The shapes that emerge without effort. Or just notice what’s true right now—the temperature of the room, the light around you, the feeling of being supported where you’re sitting. This kind of soft attention helps the body recognize that it’s here and that here is safe enough. - Invite divine guidance into the conversation.
Instead of asking for stillness or peace, you might ask a softer question: What would help me feel supported right now? You can sit with that question, pull a single Oracle Card, and read the guidebook. Guidance often arrives gently when we’re willing to listen.
If stillness feels unfamiliar right now, there’s nothing wrong with you. Nothing to fix. Nothing to rush.
Your body is remembering how to listen again, how to receive support, how to soften without needing to stay on guard. That remembering happens in its own time, through kindness, patience, and gentle attention.
So let rest come back the way it knows how.
Remember, Spirit is right there with you, every step of the way—holding the space until your body remembers it’s safe to rest again.
Love,
Colette
P.S. If you’re feeling curious about using creative practices like doodling as a way to come home to your body and collaborate with divine guidance, you’re welcome to join the waitlist for The Art of Manifesting LIVE experience on March 7. I’ll be sharing more very soon.
