Why Do We Feel Like We Need Permission to Rest?
Why Do We Feel Like We Need Permission to Rest?
Somewhere along the way, we started treating self-care as something we have to justify.
Taking time off work? You better have a valid reason.
Going for a walk in the middle of the day? Only if you’ve checked off everything on your to-do list.
Saying no to plans because you need rest? Feels selfish, right?
We’ve been conditioned to think that prioritizing our health is indulgent. That it’s something you do after you’ve taken care of everything (and everyone) else. But the truth is, your body doesn’t care how busy you are. It will keep giving you signs until you listen. And if you keep ignoring them? Eventually, you don’t get a choice.
The Body’s Warning Signs (That We Ignore Until It’s Too Late)
Health doesn’t just disappear overnight. Your body is constantly giving you cues—but most of us ignore them because they seem small, or we tell ourselves they’re just part of life.
Waking up exhausted, even after 8 hours of sleep? Your nervous system is running on fumes.
Frequent bloating, random stomach pains? Your digestion is struggling.
Acne, hair thinning, brittle nails? Your body isn’t getting the nourishment it needs.
Wired but exhausted at night? Your stress levels are through the roof.
Western medicine tells us that if your bloodwork is fine and your tests are clear, you’re "healthy." But what about all these signs that something isn’t quite right? They may not be a diagnosis, but they’re signals that your body is out of balance.
How We Define Health: Western Medicine vs. Taoist Wisdom
The way we view health in the West is very black and white—you’re either sick or you’re not. If your doctor runs tests and everything comes back "normal," you must be fine.
But that’s not how Taoists (or Ayurveda, or Traditional Chinese Medicine) see it.
Western Medicine’s View of Health:
If you don’t have a diagnosable condition, you’re considered "healthy."
Focuses on reactive care—you go to the doctor when something is wrong.
Treatment is about managing symptoms, not always fixing root causes.
Health is seen as the absence of disease, rather than the presence of vitality.
The Taoist View of Health:
Health isn’t just "not being sick"—it’s about balance, energy, and longevity.
The body gives early warning signs long before disease appears.
Good health means your organs, circulation, digestion, and emotions are all flowing in harmony.
It’s about prevention, not just treatment—supporting the body so disease doesn’t develop in the first place.
Taoists, and many ancient healing systems, teach that health is a daily practice. It’s about maintaining balance, making small adjustments, and listening to your body before it starts breaking down.
How Ayurveda Changed the Way I See Health
When I started learning about Ayurveda, it completely shifted my perspective. Unlike Western medicine, which focuses on treating symptoms, or TCM, which looks at energy flow, Ayurveda sees the body as part of nature.
We are made of the same elements as the world around us—earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Our bodies shift with the seasons, our food, our emotions. And when we stop listening, that’s when things go wrong.
Ayurveda doesn’t say, "Do this one thing and you’ll be fine forever." It says, "Pay attention. The elements within you are always changing—adjust with them."
And the more I started treating my body as an ecosystem instead of a machine, the better I felt.
Eating in sync with the seasons instead of forcing the same routine year-round.
Making small marginal gains—swapping cold drinks for warm tea, going to bed earlier, taking breaks before I was exhausted.
Realizing that my body gives me cues every day—in my skin, my nails, my digestion, my energy levels.
The thing is, health isn’t something you “achieve.” It’s something you maintain, adapt, and flow with. Just like nature does.
Health Is an Investment, Not an Expense
For years, I saw health as something I’d "get around to" when I had time. But health isn’t something you squeeze in when it’s convenient—it’s the foundation of everything else.
If you don’t make time for rest, your body will force you to through exhaustion or illness.
If you don’t make time for movement, your body will remind you with stiffness and pain.
If you don’t make time for good food, your digestion, skin, and energy will suffer.
I used to see investing in my health—whether that was taking time off, buying quality food, or working with holistic practitioners—as an expense. Now, I see it as the most important investment I’ll ever make. Because when you feel good, everything else in life is easier.
Final Thoughts: Stop Waiting for Permission
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: stop waiting for your body to break before you start listening to it.
You don’t need permission to take care of yourself. You don’t need to be sick enough or tired enough or stressed enough to justify rest, good food, movement, or time in nature.
You just need to decide that you’re worth it.
Because prevention is always easier than recovery. And the little things you do every day? They matter more than you think.
If you’re feeling like your body is giving you signs and you’re not sure what to do next, let’s talk.