The Art of Simply Existing: Why Rest & Reflection Matter Just as Much as Action

I’m great at a lot of things. Consistency? Not one of them.

Change management and adaptability might as well be my middle names. (Just kidding—it’s Maria. But still.) My life has been one of curveballs, pivots, and unexpected redirections. The best tried-and-true plan for me? To adapt.

For a long time, I thought success meant “do, do, do” and “go, go, go.” That if I wasn’t in motion, I wasn’t moving forward. But I’ve learned something equally important: the power of rest and reflection.

Just as important as doing and pushing forward are the moments of simply existing—of pausing long enough to let life catch up to me. Because when I’m always in motion, always thinking, always planning, it’s easy to miss what’s right in front of me. The unexpected opportunities. The quiet whispers of intuition. The shifts that happen when I surrender instead of force.

Working With the Energy at Play

As much as I’ve tried, I can’t control Life. Control is an illusion if you ask me — that doesn’t stop subsconscious me from still trying to control everything. But conscious me has learned about working with the energies at play—both internal and external. And let’s be real: they’re not always in harmony.

Sometimes, I need to make internal adjustments—shifting my mindset, beliefs, and approach. Other times, it’s about making external changes—releasing what no longer fits, stepping into a new environment, or simply letting go of control. The key is awareness. Knowing when to push and when to pause.

Because rest and reflection are not optional. They are necessary. They are just as important as taking action.

Remember: WORK. PLAY. REST. EXIST

All four matter. All four are valid. And all four have their time and place.

Permit yourself to exist, to breathe, to be open. Life isn’t just about the doing—it’s also about the being and the receiving.

Sometimes, the thing you may need the most is to simply let yourself be.