Eating Disorder Recovery & Body Image Therapy in Indiana: Finding Peace Beyond Food Rules

Have you worked hard to recover from an eating disorder but still feel weighed down by food and body struggles? You no longer live in the cycle of restriction or bingeing, yet comments from a loved one, the pressure of diet culture, or the endless talk of GLP-1 medications can still leave you feeling triggered and unsettled.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many women in eating disorder recovery reach a point where they are functioning but not fully free. Old rules, shame, and guilt can keep you stuck in patterns that rob you of peace.

Why Recovery Still Feels Hard

Even years into recovery, you might notice thoughts like:

• Why do I feel guilty for resting instead of working out?

• Why do comments about my body still sting?

• Why am I still obsessing about what I “should” eat?

These struggles don’t mean you’ve failed. They reveal how deeply diet trauma, perfectionism, and old wounds live in your nervous system.

What You Really Long For

You don’t want another diet plan or quick fix. You want food freedom. You want to enjoy joyful movement — running with your dog, hiking in nature, practicing yoga — without obsessing over calories. You want to sit down at family meals without anxiety. You want to trust yourself, reconnect with creativity, deepen your faith, and live as the whole person God created you to be.

A Faith-Sensitive, Trauma-Informed Approach

Through eating disorder recovery therapy and body image counseling, you can learn to release the voices of diet culture and build a life of peace. Using IFS (Internal Family Systems), EMDR trauma therapy, and, if desired, a Christian, faith-sensitive perspective, I help women untangle old burdens, heal body shame, and embrace self-trust.

Imagine this: instead of scrolling diet advice, you’re journaling by candlelight about your dreams. Instead of punishing workouts, you’re painting with your daughter or walking your golden retriever in the sunshine. Instead of calorie math, you’re finally living with freedom and joy.

Start Your Next Chapter of Recovery

You don’t have to walk this path alone. I offer virtual and in-person therapy for eating disorder recovery, body image struggles, and trauma healing in Indiana.

✨ I invite you to schedule a free discovery session — a safe space to share your story and explore how therapy can help you find lasting peace.

👉 Learn more about trauma therapy and eating disorder recovery in Indiana.

Rooted in Hope: What a Tree on a Rocky Pedestal Taught Me About Healing From Trauma

Along the coast of Lake Superior, there’s a breathtaking sight:
a lone tree standing on a rocky pedestal, far from the safety of solid ground.

At first glance, it seems impossible that this tree could survive there.
But if you look closer, you see its roots stretching across the gap, connected to the mainland.
That’s how it draws life. That’s how it keeps standing.

This image is a powerful reminder:
➡️ No matter where we find ourselves in life, God is able to reach us.
➡️ There is no place too broken, too barren, or too far gone for His love to sustain us.
➡️ What looks impossible to the world is never impossible for the Lord.

Trauma Can Leave You Feeling Stranded

When you’ve been through trauma, life can feel a lot like that tree:

• cut off from safety

• standing alone on shaky ground

• afraid the next storm will take you down

Many people living with trauma feel stuck in survival mode. Your nervous system stays on high alert, your body doesn’t feel safe, and relationships can feel strained.

But here’s the hope: your story doesn’t end there. Just like the tree’s roots reached across the gap, healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.

God Meets Us in the Impossible Places

The Bible reminds us:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3).

Even when the ground feels unsteady, God anchors us.
Even when life feels impossible, He provides connection and strength.

This is also what happens in trauma therapy. You don’t erase the past, but you learn how to feel safe again, how to reconnect with yourself and others, and how to live rooted in peace instead of fear.

Trauma Therapy Can Help You Reconnect

In my work with clients, I provide a safe and compassionate space for healing.
Together, we:

• Gently explore how trauma has impacted your body, mind, and spirit

• Reconnect you to your inner strength and God’s sustaining presence

• Build tools to calm your nervous system and restore balance

• Create new, life-giving ways to move forward

You don’t have to stay stuck on that pedestal. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

If this picture resonates with you—if you’ve been feeling cut off, stranded, or worn down by the weight of trauma—I’d love to walk alongside you.

👉 Learn more about Trauma Therapy in Indiana and how we can begin your journey toward safety, connection, and hope.

Because just like that tree, you can stand strong again—rooted in God’s love, nourished by new growth, and supported in ways you may have thought were impossible.

When Your Worth Feels Tied to Productivity: A Faith-Based Reflection for Therapists and Helpers

“If I didn’t help enough today… was I enough today?”

If you’ve ever ended your day asking that question, I want you to know:
You’re not alone.
I’ve asked it too.

As a therapist and a Christian, I used to tie my sense of worth to how effective I felt.
If I walked out of a session believing I had helped a client, I felt grounded, capable, even proud.
But if I ended the day wondering whether I’d said the right thing, missed something important, or didn’t show up the way I had hoped—I felt discouraged. Heavy. Questioning everything.

“Did I do enough?”
“Should I have said something differently?”
“Was I helpful… or did I miss the mark?”

If those questions feel familiar, this reflection is for you.

The Quiet Burnout No One Talks About: When Worth = Helping

There’s a subtle message many of us absorb as helpers, healers, and high-capacity professionals:

“My value comes from how well I care for others.”

It sounds noble. It’s reinforced by praise. And sometimes, it does feel good—until it starts to cost you.

That belief can become the invisible driver behind your exhaustion, perfectionism, self-doubt, and inability to rest.

And if you’re in a helping profession—therapy, healthcare, education, ministry—you may not even realize how much of your identity is wrapped up in “being effective.”

The Moment Everything Shifted

For me, the turning point didn’t come during a session or a training.
It came during a simple, vulnerable conversation in my weekly Bible study.

A friend began sharing how she had been beating herself up for not helping enough in her profession. She felt ashamed, like she had failed the people she was supposed to support.

And then, in that low moment, she felt God speak to her.
Not in rebuke, but in deep love.

She shared that she felt the Lord say:
“I’m not holding your mistakes over you. I see you. I love you. You are mine.”

As she spoke, something softened in me.
She had put words to the pressure I was carrying—but also offered a new way of seeing.

I felt God whisper the same message to me:

“Emily, your worth is not measured by how well you perform. I love you. I’m with you. And I’m holding your clients even when you feel unsure.”

That moment changed the way I show up in my work—and the way I view myself as a therapist.

What This Looks Like in My Work Now

There are still days I sit with clients and feel unsure. There are moments I walk out of sessions and wonder whether I did enough.
But now, I am much quicker to pause and remember:

• God is the one ultimately holding my clients—not me.

• My worth doesn’t rise or fall with my productivity.

• His love is constant—even on the days when I feel anything but effective.

And when I don’t know what to do?
I let that moment draw me into dependence, not despair.

I remember that God never asked me to have all the answers—He asked me to show up faithfully and trust Him with the rest.

That shift has been profoundly freeing.

For Therapists, Healers, and Helpers Who Are Running on Empty

If you’re a clinician, ministry leader, coach, or caregiver who’s feeling stretched thin…
If you love your work but feel quietly worn down by the pressure to always show up perfectly…
If you know the feeling of tying your identity to your ability to help others…

Please hear this:

• 🛑 You are not your clients’ savior.

• 🛑 You are not your productivity.

• 🛑 You are not more worthy when you’re “on” and less worthy when you’re tired.

At Chronicles Counseling, I work with therapists and helpers who are tired of measuring their worth by what they produce.
Together, we gently explore the parts of you that are striving, fixing, or doubting—and reconnect you with the steady, loving foundation beneath it all.

Imagine This…

✨ Ending your workday without replaying every session
✨ Resting without guilt
✨ Showing up for your clients with compassion, not pressure
✨ Letting go of the belief that you have to do it all
✨ Knowing that your identity is rooted in God—not your outcomes

You Are Still Enough on the Days That Feel Unfinished

Whether you're a therapist in Indiana, a Christian professional, or a helper navigating burnout—I want you to know:
You don’t have to carry this alone.
You don’t have to hustle for your worth.
You don’t have to be the perfect healer.

Let’s Start Unlearning That Together

If you’re ready to explore faith-based therapy designed for therapists and helpers, I’d love to walk with you.

📍 Virtual and in-person sessions available across Indiana
🔗 Learn more about therapy for therapists
📍 Also on Google: Emily Paxton Counseling with Grace LLC

It’s Not About Willpower: The Hidden Roots of Disordered Eating - If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just get it together?” — this is for you.

“If I just had more willpower…”

It’s one of the most common things I hear from clients struggling with food and body image.
But here’s the truth:
Disordered eating is not a willpower problem. It’s a protective strategy. And it usually runs much deeper than most people realize.

The Cycle of Control, Shame, and Exhaustion

Maybe you wake up each morning already thinking about food—what you shouldn’t eat, what you have to do to “make up” for yesterday, how you’ll get through the day without slipping.
Maybe you meticulously control your food all day… only to find yourself bingeing at night.
Or you swing between days of “being good” and days where it all unravels—and you’re left feeling like a failure.

This isn’t about weakness. It’s a survival system.
Often rooted in trauma, perfectionism, and impossible cultural standards around thinness and worth, disordered eating can become a way of coping with pain or trying to gain control in a world that feels unpredictable.

Trauma and the Need to Be “Enough”

Many people I work with have a long history of being the achiever, the responsible one, the caretaker.
Food becomes a way to self-soothe, to feel in control, or to try and attain a version of “perfection” that feels just out of reach.

But underneath that control is often a younger part of you—one that never felt safe, seen, or accepted.
In therapy, we gently unearth these experiences—not to rehash the past, but to bring compassion and healing to the parts of you still carrying those burdens.

Why Traditional Dieting Doesn’t Work (and Actually Makes It Worse)

When someone’s relationship with food is tangled up in self-worth, trauma, or unprocessed emotion, diets only scratch the surface.
They promise quick fixes but often deepen the shame cycle.

Therapy is about moving beneath the surface.
With modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems), we don’t just treat the behaviors—we help you heal the emotional roots driving them.

What Healing Can Look Like

Imagine waking up and not immediately stressing about food.
Imagine enjoying a meal without guilt, or moving your body because it feels good—not to punish yourself.
Imagine reclaiming the brain space currently occupied by calorie counts and body-checking—and using it for something that truly nourishes you.

Healing doesn’t mean you never think about food again.
It means food takes its rightful place in your life—no longer front and center.

What to Expect in Therapy

When we work together, we start by mapping your relationship with food and body image: what it looks like now, where it started, and what life might look like without it running the show.
We connect the dots between your eating patterns and painful life experiences—often ones you’ve never linked to food before.

Then, using IFS and EMDR, we work to unburden those younger, protective parts of you… so they don’t have to carry the pressure anymore.
Together, we create new, sustainable patterns rooted in freedom—not fear.

You Are Not Broken. And You’re Not Alone.

If you’re caught in the exhausting cycle of disordered eating, please know:
You don’t have to “just try harder.”
You don’t have to keep battling your body.
You don’t have to carry this alone.

There is a path to peace—and it doesn’t involve another diet.

Ready to Start?

If you're in Indiana and looking for a trauma-informed therapist who gets the nuances of disordered eating, I'd love to connect.
I offer both in-person and virtual sessions, using a compassionate, root-level approach to help you reclaim your relationship with food and yourself.

Contact Me to learn more or schedule a free consult.
Let’s help you get back to you.

IFS and Body Image: Why Focusing on Appearance Leaves You Stuck (and What to Do Instead)

You throw on a new outfit, feel pretty good, and catch yourself thinking, “Okay… maybe I can feel confident today.”
But then you meet up with friends, and someone walks in looking a certain way—and suddenly, your stomach sinks.
You compare. Critique. Shrink back. That sense of confidence? Gone.

Sound familiar?

That’s the emotional roller coaster of body image.
It’s something I support clients with regularly through disordered eating therapy, using IFS and other trauma-informed approaches.

And it’s not because you’re vain or shallow.
It’s because different parts of you are trying—desperately—to help you feel safe, accepted, and in control in a culture that ties worth to appearance.

From an IFS (Internal Family Systems) perspective, we all have parts that carry beliefs and emotions shaped by past experiences. That includes the part of you that checks your reflection constantly. The one that compares you to others. The one that feels shame or panic after eating. These parts aren’t the enemy—they’re doing what they believe they have to do to protect you.

Body Image Isn’t Fixed—It’s Shaped by Parts and Perception

You may have noticed that how you feel about your body changes from day to day—even moment to moment. One day you feel strong. The next, critical. Same body, different inner narrative.

That’s because your body image isn’t just about your physical appearance—it’s about the parts of you that are activated. It’s shaped by stress, mood, hormones, digestion, who you’re around, how you slept, and what story your parts are telling you in the moment.

Comparison is often one of the loudest parts. You didn’t choose to look around the room and compare yourself. That part just showed up automatically. It’s not bad—it’s trying to help you belong. But that comparison part often holds old beliefs like “I’m not enough unless I look a certain way.”

Instead of pushing it away, try pausing and asking:
👉 “What does this comparing part want me to know?”
👉 “What is it afraid would happen if I didn’t focus on my appearance?”
👉 “Can I meet it with curiosity instead of shame?”

This is how you begin to shift—from judgment to compassion, from reactivity to Self-leadership.
This Self-led approach is central to the way I work. If you’re curious about IFS or want support navigating the ups and downs of body image, learn more about how I work with clients or reach out here to connect.

Your Body Is Supposed to Shift—and So Is Your Weight

Let’s also name this: daily weight fluctuations of 2–4 pounds are completely normal. Food, water, digestion, hormones, stress, and sleep all affect your weight. Your body isn’t broken—it’s doing what it’s meant to do.

So if a part of you panics when the number on the scale changes, or if it urges you to restrict or “make up for it,” know that’s a protector. And it needs your care—not your criticism.

You’re Not a Project—You’re a Person

When we organize our lives around how we look, we miss the joy of actually being in our lives. But when we reconnect with our bodies—not as problems to fix, but as homes to care for—we create space for freedom, presence, and peace.

You don’t need to banish your critical parts. You just need to lead them with compassion. That’s where true healing begins.

If this resonates, and you’re tired of trying to “fix” your body just to feel okay, you’re not alone. I offer therapy that helps you reconnect with your body, your story, and your worth. Learn more about disordered eating therapy, or schedule a free consult today.

Why Won’t My 5-Year-Old Listen in Class? A Real Talk on Public Parenting, Perfectionism, and Strong-Willed Kids

If you’ve ever sat in a tumbling class, a soccer game, a dance recital, or even a piano lesson—watching your child completely ignore the instructor while the other kids follow along—you’re not alone. And you’re definitely not a bad parent.

It happened to me just last night.

I was sitting in the viewing area with the other parents, quietly watching our 5-year-olds in tumbling class. Most of the girls were following directions—stretching when the coach asked, twirling their ribbons in sync, staying with the group.

Then there was my daughter.

She was lying in child’s pose while everyone else stretched.
She was doing forward rolls while the other kids were twirling.
At one point, a few of the girls stopped to watch her, distracted from what they were supposed to be doing.

And right on cue, that familiar shame-spiral showed up:

“You should be more consistent.”
“You say yes too much.”
“She’s not listening because you don’t follow through.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t watching my daughter anymore—I was watching myself.
Wondering what the coaches thought.
Wondering if the other parents were silently judging.
Wondering if this moment meant I was doing something wrong.

🧠 Sound familiar?

If you've ever searched:

• “My child won’t listen during lessons”

• “Why does my 5-year-old ignore instructions?”

• “What if my child is disruptive in class?”

• “Feeling judged when your kid misbehaves in public”

—this post is for you.

Because here’s the thing: perfectionism shows up in parenting fast—especially in public.
We feel like our child’s behavior is a reflection of us.
And when they’re not following directions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’ve failed.

But that’s not true.

My daughter wasn’t trying to be disruptive. She was being five. She was curious, expressive, and totally in her own world. And I wasn’t failing—I was parenting a real child in a real moment.

💡 Parenting Takeaway:

You’re not raising a tiny performer. You’re raising a whole human.
One who’s learning—and one who needs grace, not perfection.
And so do you.

“Always Tired? How Perfectionism, Trauma, and Burnout Secretly Drain Your Energy”

You’re doing the “right things”—eating fairly well, trying to move your body, getting decent sleep.
So why do you still feel so drained?

If you’re constantly exhausted despite doing your best, the problem might not be your routine—it might be what’s happening underneath it.

As a therapist, dietitian, and coach, I often see clients caught in a cycle of burnout, perfectionism, and internal pressure. They’re not lazy or unmotivated—they’re tired from carrying too much for too long.

Emotional Exhaustion Isn’t Fixed by a Nap

Fatigue isn’t always physical.
You might be mentally and emotionally exhausted from:

• Constant self-monitoring

• Feeling like nothing you do is ever enough

• Fear of falling behind, failing, or being judged

This kind of pressure is often driven by perfectionistic parts—inner voices that push you to perform, achieve, and hold it all together. These parts usually formed as protection during earlier experiences where your safety, acceptance, or identity felt at risk.

Perfectionism and Trauma Feed Burnout

Burnout often stems from unresolved trauma and nervous system dysregulation. You might find yourself bouncing between:

• Overfunctioning (saying yes to everything, striving for control)

• Shutdown (numbness, procrastination, brain fog)

These aren’t personality flaws. They’re adaptive patterns your system learned to survive stress or instability.

When perfectionism is fueled by trauma, even small tasks can feel overwhelming—and rest doesn’t come easy. Your mind races, guilt creeps in, and your body stays tense, even when you try to relax.

What Actually Helps

1. Internal Curiosity
Start noticing the parts of you that feel pressured or frozen. Try asking, “What is this part afraid would happen if I didn’t push so hard?”

2. Redefine Enough
Drop the idea that perfection equals safety. Instead of aiming for 100%, ask, “What would a kind, doable step look like today?”

3. Practice Safe Rest
Rather than forcing rest, explore what feels safe and restorative to your system—like taking a pause, stepping outside, or checking in with your breath.

You’re Not Lazy—You’re Carrying Too Much

If this kind of exhaustion feels familiar, know this:
You don’t need more motivation. You need more compassion for the parts of you trying to survive.

Sustainable healing starts with understanding your system—and learning how to lead yourself with care instead of criticism.

Therapy for the Strong Ones: Burnout, Perfectionism, and Coming Home to Yourself

Are you a therapist, health professional, or high-achieving woman who’s always been “the strong one”?
The one others count on for steadiness, wisdom, and support?

You hold space for everyone else.
You show up.
You carry it well.

But lately… you’re tired. Emotionally drained. Spiritually disconnected. Wondering silently: What happened to me?

You’re not alone — and you don’t have to keep holding it all together by yourself.

As a licensed therapist and registered dietitian, I specialize in helping other clinicians, caregivers, and high-functioning women heal from the deep effects of burnout, perfectionism, compassion fatigue, disordered eating, and spiritual exhaustion.

I work with those who are used to being the helper — the one others rely on — and who are now asking:

🌀 “Why does it feel like I have nothing left to give?”
🌀 “I know what I ‘should’ do for self-care, but I can’t seem to access it.”
🌀 “I’m good at showing up for others… but I feel so far from God, and so far from myself.”

These struggles aren’t flaws. They’re signals.
Parts of you — like the inner perfectionist, the over-functioner, or the quiet self-sacrificer — have been working overtime.

They’ve helped you survive. They’ve helped you care well for others. But they may now be pulling you away from your own wholeness.

Using evidence-based approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR, I help you gently reconnect with the parts of you that are burned out, discouraged, or overwhelmed — and begin the deeper work of healing.

You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t have to keep pushing to prove your worth.
And you are not too far gone.

🔗 Ready to feel supported again?

If you're a therapist, healthcare professional, or high-capacity woman in Indiana looking for faith-integrated, IFS and EMDR-informed therapy, I invite you to learn more about therapy for therapists here.

You hold space for so many — but you deserve to be supported, too.
Let this be the moment you say yes.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation — your healing matters, too.

Tired of Your Inner Critic? Try This Surprising Approach for Real Relief

We all have one — the inner critic.

That familiar, harsh voice might sound something like:
“You said that? I can’t believe you just did that.”
“You’re such a failure.”
“You should’ve known better.”

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

For many of us, the inner critic is loud, relentless, and exhausting. It keeps a running commentary on everything we do — often leaving us feeling anxious, ashamed, or “not good enough.”

It’s tempting to fight it, ignore it, or tell it to just go away. But what if there was another way?

Here’s a practice rooted in Internal Family Systems (IFS therapy) and self-compassion:
Try thanking your inner critic.
Yes — you read that right.

Before you roll your eyes or click away, consider this: That inner critic has likely been with you for a long time. It’s working overtime to protect you — even if its methods are outdated or unhelpful.

🔍 Ask yourself:

• What is this critical part trying to do for me?

• Is it trying to push me to do better?

• Is it protecting me from being judged or hurt?

When you pause to acknowledge its good intentions, something powerful happens. That loud voice might start to soften.

You don’t have to agree with it or let it lead your life. But you can say,
"Thanks for working so hard to protect me. I see you."

This small shift — from resistance to curiosity — is the beginning of healing self-talk, emotional balance, and deeper inner peace.

Next time your critic shows up? Don’t shove it away. Greet it with gratitude. You might just notice it taking a much-needed break from its round-the-clock job.

Psalm 46:1 NLT – God Is My Refuge and Strength in Times of Trouble

When life feels overwhelming—whether it’s sleepless nights, business stress, parenting challenges, or painful grief—Psalm 46:1 (NLT) brings me back to center:
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

This Bible verse is more than comforting—it’s a powerful truth to stand on. In a world full of uncertainty and pressure, God offers stability, peace, and strength. He is a firm foundation, even when everything around us feels like it’s falling apart.

As a Christian entrepreneur and parent, I know what it’s like to carry the emotional weight of running a business while trying to be present at home. The responsibilities pile up: managing finances, meeting deadlines, supporting your family, and trying to stay grounded in your faith. Add in the exhaustion of sleepless nights or the deep sadness of losing someone you love, and it can feel like too much to carry.

That’s why Psalm 46:1 is one of the best Bible verses for stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. It reminds us we’re not alone. God is not distant. He is near—and He is always ready to help.

How to Apply Psalm 46:1 When Life Feels Heavy:

1. During Sleepless Nights: Instead of spiraling with worry, recite Psalm 46:1 as a calming prayer. Let it replace racing thoughts and remind you of God’s constant care.

2. When Business or Parenting Feels Overwhelming: Start your day with this scripture. Ask God for strength, direction, and peace as you lead others and support your family.

3. When You're Grieving or Anxious: Meditate on this verse slowly. Let it be your anchor when emotions feel too big. God's presence is a safe place to grieve, to breathe, to simply be.

No matter what you’re facing, you don’t have to walk through it alone. God is your safe place, your strength, and your help in every storm.

Lean on Psalm 46:1—your firm foundation in hard times.

Balancing Life as a 40-Something Mom and Solo Mental Health Practice Owner

Being a mom in my 40s with a young child and running a solo mental health private practice is a life of joyful chaos. Mornings are packed with lunchboxes and school drop-offs, followed by client sessions, documentation, and the occasional puzzle on the living room floor. As an older mom and therapist, I’m constantly balancing the needs of my child with the responsibilities of being a business owner in the mental health field.

One of the biggest challenges? Energy management. Working moms in their 40s know that raising a young child while supporting clients through deep emotional work takes both physical and emotional stamina. While I may not have the same energy as some younger moms, I bring life experience, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of purpose to both motherhood and my practice.

Connecting with younger moms was a hurdle at first. Many of them are in a different life stage, and I sometimes felt out of place. But I’ve learned that shared parenting experiences—meltdowns, milestones, and everything in between—create common ground.

If you're a fellow older mom or therapist-mom, here are a few ways to feel more connected:

• Be curious and open—start conversations at school pickup or playdates.

• Focus on what unites you—your children.

• Create small communities—coffee chats, weekend outings, mom groups.

• Embrace your story—you bring value and wisdom to every table you're at.

Running a mental health business while raising a young child isn’t easy—but it’s incredibly meaningful. If you're navigating the same path, know this: your age is not a limitation. It’s a strength.

Rest Without Guilt: A Guide for Perfectionists

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting, even when you're completely exhausted, you’re not alone. Perfectionists often carry an invisible pressure to do it all—to stay ahead, meet every expectation, and never let anyone down. The idea of slowing down can feel risky. What if you fall behind? What if someone thinks you’re lazy?

But here’s the truth: rest is not laziness. It’s what keeps you grounded and clear.

Why Rest Feels Hard for Perfectionists

For many high achievers, productivity has become a form of protection. You may feel that if you stop—even briefly—you’ll lose control, disappoint someone, or fall into chaos.

There’s a part of you that believes:

“If I’m not doing, I’m not enough.”

This belief often leads to overwork, burnout, and even procrastination. Ironically, the harder you push, the more your brain and body resist.

The Power of Intentional Rest

Rest isn’t just a break—it’s a reset. It helps you return to what Internal Family Systems (IFS) calls Self energy—the calm, confident part of you that leads with clarity instead of fear.

When you pause intentionally, you show your inner system that it’s safe to slow down. You teach your perfectionist part that rest won’t make everything fall apart—in fact, it helps you show up better.

3 Ways to Practice Guilt-Free Rest

1. Pause and Name the Parts
When you feel pressure to keep going, say:

“A part of me is afraid to rest, and another part of me really needs it.”
Just noticing both can help you reconnect with your center.

2. Schedule 10-Minute Mini-Rests
Block out short windows in your day to sit quietly, walk outside, or stretch. These “rest reps” build trust with your system over time.

3. Redefine Productivity
Write this on a sticky note:

“I am most productive when I am present, not just busy.”

You Are Not Lazy

Resting doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re listening.
You don’t have to earn your rest by doing everything perfectly.
You just have to honor your humanity.

Because when you rest on purpose, you lead your life from purpose.