In today's fast-paced world, the concept of truly resting and enjoying success often feels elusive. Many of us are caught in a cycle of hyper productivity and achievement, constantly striving for the next milestone without pausing to reflect or recharge. Inspired by a friend's sabbatical and a compelling story from Will Smith's autobiography, I’m examining the internal struggle and unexpected discomfort that comes with stepping away from the grind.If you're seeking ways to incorporate rest into your life, or simply curious about the journey of self-discovery and enjoyment, this episode offers valuable reflections and practical advice to help you embrace stillness and find balance. Tune in as I dive into the art of stillness and explore what it means to remove yourself from the relentless pace of life to reconnect with your true self.MENTIONEDThe Will Smith Autobiography Will by Will SmithGEMS DROPPED“Many ​of ​us ​have ​the ​privilege ​to ​do ​this, ​to ​actually ​take ​sabbaticals ​or ​to ​open ​a ​new ​chapter ​in ​your ​life ​where ​your ​work, ​your ​business, ​your ​profession ​is ​not ​at ​the ​center, ​at ​the ​core ​of ​your ​identity.”“Some ​of ​us ​have ​been ​​working ​full ​time ​employees ​since ​we ​were ​very ​small ​children. ​Whether ​we ​were ​going ​elsewhere, ​outside ​of ​our ​household ​to ​work ​or ​whether ​we ​were ​energetically, ​emotionally ​laboring, ​we've ​been ​like ​many ​of ​us ​have ​been ​laboring ​for ​a ​very ​long ​time. ​And ​so ​when ​that ​threshold ​arises ​where ​it's ​time ​for ​my ​sabbatical, ​it's ​gonna ​vary.”“Without ​the ​expressed ​belief ​that ​I ​am ​working ​towards ​a ​sabbatical, ​some ​sort ​of ​extended ​break ​to ​pull ​yourself ​away ​and ​to ​reconnect ​with ​yourself ​and ​life…whatever. I ​think ​that ​that's ​what ​we're ​quietly ​playing ​for, ​but ​I ​don't ​think ​that ​many ​of ​us ​have ​actually ​taken ​ourselves ​to ​the ​place.”“The ​question ​is​ what ​do ​we ​actually ​think ​we ​want ​and ​what ​we ​truly ​will ​find ​on ​the ​other ​side ​of this ​freedom ​to ​rest, ​the ​stillness, ​the ​pause ​that ​we ​all ​keep ​saying ​that ​we ​want?”“I think ​we ​focus ​a ​lot ​on, ​like, ​I ​need ​to ​have ​a ​hobby, ​I ​need ​to ​have ​fun. ​And ​I ​think ​a ​lot ​of ​that ​just ​comes ​back ​down ​to ​like ​sit ​down ​either ​with ​yourself ​or ​someone ​else, ​however ​you ​process ​out ​your ​thoughts. If ​you ​can't ​think ​of ​like ​what ​am ​I ​into? ​What ​am ​I ​interested ​in ​besides ​making ​money, ​besides ​doing, ​you ​know, ​achieving ​things ​and ​you ​know, ​like ​working, ​what ​am ​I ​into? ​​Go ​back ​to ​your ​younger ​self ​and ​think ​about ​what ​brought ​you ​delight ​and ​joy ​and ​surprise ​and ​what ​really ​intrigued ​you ​as ​a ​kid. ​What ​was ​something ​that ​you ​used ​to ​spend ​hours ​on. ​It ​may ​not ​be ​that ​exact ​thing ​today ​in ​its ​exact ​form, ​but ​some ​continuity ​of ​that ​still ​exists ​within ​you.”“Build ​yourself ​a ​bridge ​back ​to ​yourself ​first.”“Until ​he ​had ​had ​that ​kind ​of ​stillness ​experience ​where ​it's ​like, ​I ​have ​nowhere ​to ​go ​but ​to ​be ​here ​with ​me ​and ​to ​actually ​feel ​what ​it ​is ​that ​is ​trying ​to ​be ​felt. ​That ​is ​the ​thing ​that ​I ​think ​we ​are ​avoiding ​most.”STAY IN TOUCHCome and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.