Restpiration

Category: Inspirationals

  • The Play of Life: Striving from a Place of Rest

    I have often found myself thinking about how much of our lives we spend trying to get somewhere. We are constantly making plans, pursuing goals, worrying about deadlines and thinking about the next thing that needs our attention. Even when we are doing something we genuinely desire, we can become so preoccupied with getting the desired outcome that we forget to enjoy the experience. I sometimes wonder whether we have made life unnecessarily difficult by approaching almost everything with a sense of pressure and urgency.

    Recently, I came across the expression The Play of Life, and it got me thinking. What if life was meant to be enjoyed, not merely endured? What if we could take our responsibilities seriously, make deliberate moves and pursue our aspirations without losing the ability to savour the experience? I find this idea quite liberating because it suggests that we don’t have to choose between being intentional about life and enjoying it.

    Think about playing a game. You pay attention, make deliberate moves, respond to unexpected situations and sometimes have to act with urgency. You want to do well, but you don’t necessarily spend the entire game worrying about what might happen next. You engage with the experience and enjoy it.

    What if we approached life with a similar disposition?

    Playing the game of urgency

    There is a common misconception that rest and urgency cannot coexist. We imagine that if something requires our immediate attention, we must respond with anxiety and pressure. But must urgency always come with worry?

    We can respond to a deadline without panicking, prepare for an examination without being consumed by the fear of failure, and pursue an opportunity without making our happiness dependent on its outcome.

    After all, worrying about something doesn’t necessarily make us better equipped to handle it. Sometimes, it only takes away the clarity and energy we need to do what is required.

    Philippians 4:6 encourages us not to be anxious about anything but to bring our requests before God through prayer and thanksgiving. I find this particularly reassuring. We are not asked to abandon our concerns or pretend that everything is fine. We are invited to approach life with a different source of confidence.

    We can give something our immediate attention without giving it permission to steal our peace.

    The game is bigger than the score

    Perhaps one reason we struggle to enjoy life is that we have become too attached to outcomes. We want the qualification, the job, the financial breakthrough, the recognition or whatever else represents success to us. These desires are not necessarily wrong, but when the outcome becomes the only thing that matters, the journey can become an endless burden.

    We begin to postpone our happiness until we arrive somewhere else. We forget to appreciate the little things happening around us because our attention is fixed on what is yet to happen.

    Yet, Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 reminds us that there is goodness in rejoicing, doing good, and enjoying the fruits of our labour. Interestingly, this enjoyment is described as a gift from God.

    Perhaps we should learn to appreciate the game beyond the score. We can desire a better tomorrow without despising today. We can celebrate progress without being frustrated by how far we still have to go.

    Making room for the entire experience

    Of course, enjoying life doesn’t mean that everything will always be rosy. There are moments of disappointment, uncertainty, grief and genuine hardship. We don’t have to pretend otherwise.

    But even in difficult seasons, there may be room to breathe, appreciate a beautiful afternoon, share a laugh with someone we love or find comfort in the little things that remain.

    Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Perhaps the invitation is to embrace the fullness of life rather than allowing one difficult chapter to define the entire story.

    Jesus says in John 10:10 that He came so that we might have life more abundantly. And 1 Timothy 6:17 speaks of God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy.

    I find these words worth reflecting on. We are not merely here to endure life until we finally arrive at some imagined destination where everything becomes enjoyable. There is a life to be lived along the way.

    Perhaps striving from a place of rest is learning to give our best without making our peace conditional on the results. We can plan, work, pursue, adjust and try again, knowing that we don’t have to carry the weight of the entire future on our shoulders.

    So, by all means, take your dreams seriously. Make deliberate moves. Play the game of urgency when the moment calls for it. But don’t forget to savour the experience.

    After all, the game is not just about winning. There is also the joy of playing.

  • The System of Life

    One of the interesting things about life is that although we experience it as individuals, very little about our existence is truly individual. Think about an ordinary morning. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the roads we travel and even the language we use to communicate are products of countless contributions from people we may never meet. Our lives are connected in ways that often escape our awareness.

    Perhaps this is because we are so accustomed to seeing ourselves as individuals that we sometimes lose sight of the larger system of which we are a part.

    Consider the human body. The heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs have distinct functions, yet none can sustain life independently. The heart doesn’t need to become the lungs, neither do the lungs need to become the heart. Their different functions contribute to the survival of the same organism. The body thrives not because every organ performs the same task, but because each performs its own function in harmony with the others.

    I find this a beautiful way to understand human existence. We have different abilities, interests, temperaments, opportunities and responsibilities. We occupy different positions and contribute in different ways. Yet, we are all participants in a much larger experience called life.

    So, why do we compare?

    Perhaps comparison begins when we lose sight of the larger picture and become overly concerned with our individual positions within it. We see someone getting married, securing a well-paying job, getting recognition, and suddenly begin questioning the progress of our own lives. We observe another person’s achievements and unconsciously turn them into a measuring stick for our own worth.

    The problem is that we are comparing different people, with different circumstances and responsibilities, as though we were all running towards an identical destination. We see the outcomes of other people’s journeys without fully appreciating the systems, opportunities and experiences that shaped them.

    Sometimes, we even mistake being different for being unequal in worth. We forget that someone being further along in one aspect of life does not necessarily mean they are ahead in life itself.

    Paul offers an interesting illustration in 1 Corinthians 12. He describes the human body as having many parts, each with a distinct function. The eye cannot tell the hand, “I have no need of you.” Neither can the head dismiss the feet because they perform a different function. Each part is necessary, and none can claim independence from the others. The body functions as one, despite the diversity of its parts.

    I love what this teaches us about our relationships with one another. We don’t have to become identical to appreciate one another. We don’t have to occupy the same positions to recognise each other’s value. In fact, our differences are part of what makes our collective existence possible.

    Jesus offers another perspective in John 21:21-22. Peter, having received an answer about his own future, turns to ask Jesus about the future of another disciple. Jesus responds, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

    I find this response particularly striking. Peter was being invited to attend to his own journey rather than become preoccupied with what lay ahead for someone else. There was a path before him, and another person’s path did not need to become his concern.

    Perhaps there is a lesson here for us. Knowing our place in the larger system liberates us from the pressure to become someone else. We can pursue our ambitions without being driven by the need to catch up with others. We can celebrate another person’s achievements without interpreting them as evidence of our inadequacy. We can appreciate different paths without feeling compelled to follow them.

    And there is another freedom that comes with this understanding: the freedom to allow others to be. When we are comfortable with our own journeys, we become less threatened by the choices and accomplishments of others. We no longer need everyone to validate our decisions or live according to our expectations before we can appreciate them.

    This doesn’t mean abandoning ambition or becoming indifferent to growth. It simply means that our growth no longer has to come at the expense of our peace or our appreciation of others.

    Perhaps contentment is not about having everything we desire or reaching a particular position in life. Maybe it is partly about recognising that we have a place in a much larger system, and that our task is to grow, contribute and make the most of the opportunities before us.

    What would change about the way we approach our careers, relationships, ambitions and everyday interactions if we genuinely saw ourselves as participants in one interconnected system rather than individuals competing for a place in the world?

  • A Healthy Desire

    I have often wondered why we sometimes find it difficult to enjoy what we have because of the things we wish we had. We look forward to better jobs, financial security, meaningful relationships, academic achievements, and opportunities to explore the world. There is nothing wrong with any of these desires. In fact, they can inspire us to grow and take meaningful steps towards the lives we envision. But somewhere along the way, we can become so focused on what we want that we forget to appreciate the life we are already living.

    The problem is not always what we want, but what we believe having it will do for us. We may convince ourselves that we cannot be happy until we get that job, that we cannot feel successful until we earn a certain amount of money, or that our lives will only become meaningful when we reach a particular milestone. Without realizing it, we turn our desires into conditions for our happiness. The things we hope will enrich our lives become the very things that make our present lives feel inadequate.

    Consider how easily we can turn the present into a waiting room. We tell ourselves that life will begin when we graduate, when we get married, when our finances improve, or when we finally become the people we want to be. Until then, we remain occupied with what is missing. We may have good things around us, people who love us, and moments worth enjoying, yet our attention is so fixed on the future that we hardly notice them.

    Even when we eventually get what we want, the satisfaction may not last as long as we expected. The mind finds another thing to pursue, another milestone to reach, and another reason why what we have is not quite enough. Before long, we are back where we started, hoping the next achievement will bring the fulfilment that the previous one could not sustain.

    Does this mean we should stop desiring things? Not at all. There is nothing wrong with wanting a better life or working towards a future we find meaningful. The trouble begins when we make our peace dependent on circumstances turning out exactly as we wish. A healthy desire gives us direction without becoming a demand that life must fulfil.

    We can want something deeply without believing that its absence makes us less worthy or our lives less valuable. We can work towards financial security while still enjoying the simple pleasures available to us today. We can pursue academic excellence without allowing every disappointing result to define our worth. We can hope for a better future while remaining present enough to appreciate the people and experiences that make our current lives meaningful.

    Perhaps a healthy desire is one that motivates us without consuming us. It encourages us to take responsibility for the things within our control while accepting that some outcomes will remain beyond our influence. We can make plans, put in the necessary effort, and remain hopeful without demanding that the world follow our preferred script. When things do not work out, we can acknowledge our disappointment, learn what we can, and decide how to proceed without turning an unmet desire into a judgment about ourselves.

    This does not mean becoming passive or abandoning our dreams. Rather, it means pursuing them without making ourselves miserable along the way. We can be ambitious and still recognise when we need rest. We can strive for improvement without treating our present selves as unfinished products unworthy of appreciation.

    The next time you find yourself wanting something you do not have, pause for a moment. Ask yourself whether the desire is inspiring you to take a meaningful step or convincing you that your present life is not good enough. You may discover that you can pursue the very same goal with less anxiety and a greater appreciation for the journey.

    Life does not have to be perfect before it becomes worth enjoying. There will always be something more to desire, something else to improve, or another dream waiting to be pursued. We need not abandon these aspirations, but we can learn to hold them differently.

    Reach for what you desire, but do not let the absence of it rob you of the life you already have. The future may hold wonderful things for you, but it is not the only place where life is happening. There is also this moment, with all its imperfections and possibilities, waiting to be lived.

  • Dear Dreamer (Letter 14 Review)

    I’m excited to announce that I will be reviewing some of my books right here on this blog. I find this helpful because, like many others, I love having a practical guide that helps me ease into a book and get the most out of its contents.

    I’ll begin today with my latest book, Dear Dreamer. I wrote this book as a heart-to-heart conversation with the Dreamer. That’s you, and everyone else reading this. It is an easy-to-read, insight-filled book containing 30 letters to nourish the dreamer in you.

    Today, I want us to discuss the 14th letter, titled “Worry Isn’t Your Work”.

    Sometimes, we overestimate worry and mistake it for responsibility or maturity.

    Restpirant Jerome (Dear Dreamer)

    This is a classic trap we often fall into when it comes to worry. Somehow, we have managed to convince ourselves that the more we worry, the more responsible we are, as though worry were the ultimate price of maturity. But this confusion stems from our inability to distinguish worry from planning.

    Worry is the endless mental chatter that continues long after you have reached the limits of what you can reasonably control. In the book, I shared the story of a ship’s captain, as recounted by Dale Carnegie in How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. The captain had the important task of leading a voyage, which he approached diligently. He selected competent sailors and skilled navigators, ensured that all supplies were in order, and made reasonable preparations for emergencies that might arise. That’s responsibility at work!

    Then, when all the preparations had been made, guess what he did? I’d rather tell you what he didn’t do. He didn’t spend the night worrying about what might go wrong or what the consequences might be if something did. Someone once said, “Worry gives you something to do when there’s nothing left to do.” Worry occupies the mind by repeating the same concerns without producing any new action. And if worry does lead to action, that action is often reactive, unstable, and, at worst, destructive.

    Planning, on the other hand, helps you distinguish between what lies within your control and what doesn’t. This allows you to focus your resources on what you can reasonably do without fretting over what lies beyond your control. In doing so, you preserve the mental energy and fortitude you need to carry out your tasks excellently.

    So, dear Dreamer, I’d encourage you to use your imagination wisely to plan and take practical steps wherever you can. But once the work is done, there comes a time to wash and dry your tired hands, trusting that you’ve given your very best.

    Download Dear Dreamer and all our books for free via the download link below

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  • A Quality Decision

    A Quality Decision

    From the moment we enter this world, our survival depends largely on other people. As babies, we rely on our caregivers for food, warmth, protection, and comfort. We learn early that staying close to those who care for us is necessary for our well-being. As we grow, this need for connection expands beyond our families to include friends, communities, and the wider society. We learn the customs, values, and expectations that help us find our place among others. In many ways, belonging becomes associated with safety, and acceptance becomes something we learn to protect.

    There is wisdom in this arrangement. Human beings are social creatures, and our ability to cooperate, share knowledge, and care for one another has contributed greatly to our survival. Our cultures and traditions carry lessons accumulated across generations. They teach us how to live with others and give us a sense of identity. The challenge, however, begins when we accept everything we inherit without examining whether it truly reflects the kind of life we want to live.


    Much of what we pursue is influenced by the environment in which we were raised. Society has its own definitions of success, greatness, and a life worth living. We may be taught that a successful person must acquire certain qualifications, secure a prestigious job, build a particular kind of home, or achieve financial independence by a certain age. We may also inherit expectations about whom we should marry, how we should raise our children, and what a respectable life should look like. Before we know it, we are running towards destinations whose importance we have never stopped to question.

    This does not mean that these aspirations are wrong. A prestigious career may genuinely fulfil you, marriage may be something you deeply desire, and financial success may provide the security you need. The important question is whether you are pursuing these things because they matter to you or because you have learned that being without them makes you less worthy in the eyes of others.

    A quality decision, therefore, begins with an honest conversation with yourself. Before accepting that job, pursuing that relationship, enrolling in that programme, or making a significant life change, give yourself room to ask a few questions. Why do I really want this? What do I believe this achievement will give me? Am I drawn to the experience itself, or am I more interested in the recognition that may come with it? If nobody applauded my decision, would I still make it? And if things did not work out as I hoped, would the pursuit still have been worthwhile?

    These questions are not meant to make every decision complicated. They simply help us recognise the difference between our conditioned selves and our more natural inclinations. Our conditioned self is shaped by the expectations, fears, beliefs, and approval we have learned to seek. Our natural self, by contrast, is what becomes easier to recognise when we look beyond these influences and pay attention to what genuinely matters to us. The distinction is not always clear, but honest reflection can help us see it more clearly.

    Sometimes, something that once appeared irresistible begins to lose its appeal when we examine why we want it. We may discover that we are pursuing a career to prove our worth, entering a relationship to escape loneliness, or chasing an achievement because we fear being left behind. Recognising this does not make us foolish. It gives us an opportunity to choose with greater awareness.

    The goal is not to reject society or assume that our deepest desires are always right. Even our personal preferences can be shaped by experiences we have yet to understand. Rather, the goal is to become conscious participants in our own lives instead of allowing inherited expectations to make every decision for us.

    A quality decision is not necessarily the one that brings the greatest applause, the most money, or the highest social standing. It is a decision made with an honest understanding of what matters to you, what you are willing to give, and why you are choosing that particular path.

    You do not have to live a life that impresses everyone. You have to live one that makes sense to you. And sometimes, the most important step towards that life is pausing long enough to ask yourself, “Is this truly what I want?”

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