I’ve been called to learn how to truly rest. But what does that even mean?

When we think of rest, we often picture relaxing activities—like sitting still with a book, watching TV, or going for a walk. Some might even say rest is doing something fun. Essentially, we equate rest with "not working."

But I’ve come to realize that true, soul-deep rest is so much more than that. To reach that level of rest, you have to go deep. You have to face fears and release them. You have to let your mind find peace and figure out what needs to change in your life for that peace to be sustainable.

I used to think resting was snuggling up with a good book. And while that can be restful for my body and a great distraction for my mind, I’ve learned it doesn’t actually recharge me on a fundamental level. It’s escapism rather than healing.

To truly rest is to heal.

Sometimes, escapism is the first step toward healing because your body and mind need space to process without focusing too hard on the pain. But it becomes a problem when we stay at that surface level and don’t take it deeper.

I've learned that without this deeper healing, we are unable to recharge in ways that sustain not just personal well-being but also our ability to grow our business. As entrepreneurs, especially those managing chronic health conditions or juggling caregiving responsibilities, learning how to rest productively can be transformative.

Learning Soul-Deep Rest

Over the last several years, my main work client, Cara, has taught me how to go deeper in ways I never imagined. I used to think meditation wasn’t for people like me—especially since I’d heard it doesn’t work well for those with ADHD. But early in our work together, Cara led some guided meditations, and I was hooked. I realized it was especially good for people like me.

Meditation brought me a kind of rest I’d never experienced before. It deepened my prayer life and strengthened my relationship with God in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

The lessons I’ve learned from Cara have changed my life more than anything else because they’ve brought me closer to knowing myself. And in knowing myself better, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my relationship with God and an ability to receive His healing and blessings.

When Cara first introduced me to energy work, I was skeptical. Now, I can’t imagine life without it as part of my daily routine. Energy work sounds complex but is simply about becoming aware of how external influences affect your internal state. Imagine carrying a backpack filled with items that aren’t yours—energy work helps you unpack what doesn’t belong so you can move forward lighter and freer.

When I skip even the bare minimum of energetic self-care, my days feel rough. My fibromyalgia is worse. My anxiety is higher. If too many days pass without it, everything becomes overwhelming. In those moments of desperation, when I finally sit down to do some energy work, it’s like flipping a switch—my mental and emotional state often does a complete 180. 

While energy work doesn’t immediately fix external problems, it eases the internal conflict that makes those problems feel insurmountable and gives us the foundation we need to move forward from a better place.

Let’s Talk Practicalities

Let's share real things that make a difference in our lives so we can inspire and support each other. I'll go first, and I would love to hear your thoughts in The Seasons of Growth Network.

Here are five practices that nurture both your mind and your business.

1. Grounding & Releasing Energy

Every night (or as often as possible), I energetically ground myself and release any energy that isn’t mine or no longer serves me. When I skip this practice, I feel noticeably less rested in the morning—which is saying something because I already wake up tired every day! This small ritual makes a big difference. 

Grounding is the practice of connecting with the earth’s energy to stabilize yourself emotionally and physically. Think of it as “rebooting” your system—letting go of stress and external influences so you can focus on what matters most.

For entrepreneurs, grounding helps reduce decision fatigue and fosters clarity in problem-solving. Pairing this with releasing energy that isn’t yours clears mental clutter, making room for creativity and strategic thinking.

You can watch Cara’s video here to learn more about being grounded in general and download a free guided grounding meditation and energy clearing from her Library here. (The Library link is my affiliate link, but it’s free.)

I often find being grounded into my body to be a very uncomfortable place to be, but doing it via a Grounding Energy meditation brings a soothing sensation that eases me into it and changes my perception.

2. Spending Time in Nature

This spring, I’ve made it a priority to get outside daily after spending most of winter indoors avoiding the cold. Walking every day has been transformative for my mental state—not just because of the sunshine (hello, vitamin D!) but also because I’m intentional about connecting with nature as I move my body. 

I focus on breathing deeply, grounding and releasing energy during the walk, and appreciating the beauty around me. It usually turns into a lovely gratitude practice that makes the entire day better and it’s also a powerful way to boost creativity and productivity. If you’re stuck on a project or struggling with burnout, stepping outside can spark fresh ideas and help you return to work with renewed focus.

This is also a chance to get some solid exercise in, although I do this intuitively. If I have the energy for it I push hard to “power walk” and if I don’t, I meander and relax. I also like to incorporate some stretching. It brings me back to my dancing days and my body and ADHD brain just really enjoy it.

3. Tuning Into My Energy and Emotions

I’m currently experimenting with how other people’s energy affects me and how differently I feel when I’m alone versus surrounded by others. Part of this involves carving out intentional alone time whenever possible. During these moments, I tune into my body’s energy and give myself permission to process emotions freely.

I’m also realizing how empathic I am—more than I ever thought—and how much of the emotional turmoil I experience isn’t actually mine. It blocks my ability to focus and heightens my stress to the point of being unable to work effectively. Prioritizing this awareness feels like a game-changer for my mental and emotional health.

For entrepreneurs, tuning into emotions allows us to process stress effectively rather than letting it block progress. This practice encourages emotional resilience, which is vital for navigating the ups and downs of running a business.

My client Cara has a practice for processing emotions that helps the emotion move through you, so you don’t stay stuck in it. You can check it out on YouTube here. The key concept is you don’t have to control or hide your emotions; instead, notice them, feel them, and let them pass. That’s how you make room for more positive energy. 

4. Working Gently

Gentle work is about honoring your natural rhythms instead of forcing productivity during low-energy periods. For example, if you’re feeling drained due to a menstrual cycle or overwhelm, embracing slower work cycles can prevent burnout while still keeping momentum in your business.

This one’s still a work in progress for me! Like many entrepreneurs, hustle culture has left its mark with thoughts like:

• "Why can’t I work faster or harder?"
• "Why do I let ADHD make everything so difficult?"
• "Why do I let fibromyalgia symptoms slow me down so much?"

These thoughts are unkind and unrealistic—and they create stress and anxiety that hold us back from working in ways that align with our needs. We don’t “let” things be hard. Sometimes they just are. That doesn't need to stop us though.

Let's reframe. Instead of the negative questions above, retrain your thoughts:

• What pace of work feels sustainable and aligned with my energy today?
• How can I adapt my workflow to support my unique ADHD strengths and challenges?
• What gentle practices can I embrace to honor my body’s needs while staying productive?

We have to practice shifting our perspective and stop fighting against ourselves. Steady business growth is only sustainable when aligning work habits with physical and emotional needs.

5. Accountability

This is where things get tricky! Staying accountable to myself privately hasn’t worked well—I tend to psych myself out before making much progress because fear gets in the way. Or I go strong for a few days until the “newness” wears off and my brain can no longer sustain the effort without that added excitement.

Accountability doesn’t have to mean rigid schedules—it can be as simple as sharing goals with someone who inspires you or creating systems that support follow-through. Find what actually motivates you and build on that.

Helping others motivates me deeply! For example:

• My son and I do grounding exercises together at night—it helps him sleep better while keeping me consistent with my own practice.
• We spend time outside together daily because he needs fresh air as much (if not more) than I do—and his joy while playing makes these moments even more special.

The hardest part of this "learning to rest" journey, has been holding myself accountable for gentle work habits and embracing cycles of energy and rest—old habits die hard! Unrealistic expectations create stress spirals that are tough to break free from.

In business, accountability ensures that we stay aligned with our vision even when motivation wanes. We all need it in some form or another. I’m great at planning and initiating but struggle with follow-through on my own.

So I’ve come up with a possible solution for myself and others like me, that need that extra support from outside sources.

An Invitation to Gentle Scaling

If you’re also navigating these challenges—or simply want support prioritizing rest—I’d love for us to help each other!

When we prioritize practices like grounding, spending time in nature, tuning into emotions, gentle work habits, and accountability, we create space for creativity, clarity, and consistency—all essential ingredients for scaling a business without burnout.

If these ideas resonate with you, I invite you to join my 90-Day Gentle Scaling Program—a heart-centered approach to growing your business while honoring your energy cycles.

I’m excited to tell you all about it!  Click this link to learn more about Gentle Scaling—I hope to see you there!

All the love & support,
Amanda

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