The Power of Stillness
How Rest Sparked My Creativity
After months of promoting my book, The Shaman’s Wife, traveling, and focusing all my attention on the launch, I recently allowed myself to do absolutely nothing for a week. What happened during that time surprised me: a slew of new ideas emerged, and my creative spark reignited.
In a world where we’re constantly told to show up, meet deadlines, and maintain consistency, it can feel like stepping away will damage your business or reputation. I understand this—especially for entrepreneurs like me; there’s this pressure that if you aren’t constantly visible, something bad will happen. But here’s the truth: nothing terrible happened when I didn’t send out my newsletter or post on Substack for what felt like an eternity (though it was only three weeks). In fact, my subscriber count rose.
During my week of rest, I allowed myself to sleep in, take long walks on the cliffs, and enjoy leisurely meals in some of the quiet spots in my village. In that space of stillness, new ideas began to take shape—ideas that will influence my future writing and business.
I’m sharing this because I think we all put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to keep grinding, especially after intense periods of work. The reality is that rest is essential. And contrary to the fear of becoming irrelevant, stepping back may actually bring clarity and fresh inspiration.
So, give yourself permission to pause. Busy is overrated. Stillness is underrated. When you return from that pause, you’ll find yourself recharged with renewed focus and energy. Trust me—it’s worth it.
Take care,
Alicia
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Alicia,
I am enjoying this subscription and your book emmensly! This particular topic strikes home for me right now. All of your writing is going to the core of my soul, truth be told. I am feeling a connection to a deeper part of myself that I didn't even know was buried. This year has been a special unfolding of layers of myself and my purpose in this lifetime. I reflect on where we were when we first met. The powerful affect you and your guidance had on me, and now getting to know you again after all this time and a whirlwind of experiences for both of us, I feel a leveling up is happening. There is a practical aspect to all of the complicated conditions for which I set myself up to endure. There is an ease that is coming over me now. Your words are like a wind chime singing into the ether guiding me to a greater knowing. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated 🙏 ✨️. When I get back from Europe next month, I would like to see if working together once again would be good fit. Peace to you dear being!
Madilyn