“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” — Alan Cohen

If you have followed me for a while, you know I post a new blog entry every three weeks. But a few weeks ago, I didn't post.

I did not forget. I did not lose track of time. I just did not have it in me. Instead of trying to push through or force something, I gave myself permission to rest.

It was uncomfortable, but it was right. I want to share why I made that choice, because perhaps you could use a little permission, too.

The Friday and Saturday before my scheduled posting date, I was volunteering in my community. From 8am to 5:30pm each day, I was outside, present, engaged, and on my feet, connecting with community members, answering questions, and helping out however I could.

It was meaningful, fulfilling, and I loved it. And by the end of those two hot, humid days, I was drained. So when Sunday came around, my regularly scheduled day to publish a new blog post, I opened my computer, but no words were ready to flow.

All I heard was a persistent message from my mind and body, "Please, not today."

I used to ignore signals like that. I used to treat my calendar as the end-all and be-all. If something was scheduled, I believed it had to happen, regardless of my feelings or energy level. That version of consistency made me feel safe. In control. Predictable.

But over time, I've learned something more gentle and true. Consistency isn't about white-knuckling our way through something. It's about listening, adjusting, and showing up from a place of truth, not pressure.

Skipping that post didn't make me feel guilty. I felt relieved.

There was a time when missing a commitment, even a self-imposed one, would have launched me into a spiral of second-guessing and negative self-talk. But none of that came up. I've come to understand that rest is not a betrayal of your goals; it's part of the path.

So I didn't write. I didn't force it. I gave myself space, and when I returned, nothing had crumbled. The rhythm was still there, ready to be resumed.

Skipping a blog post is not a big, dramatic catastrophe. But for people who care deeply about showing up, being consistent, and doing what we say we'll do, it feels big. Missing a beat can feel like breaking a promise.

So, I want to say this, just in case no one else has told you lately:

You are allowed to rest.

You are allowed to skip.

You are allowed to listen to your body and say, "Not today."

Even if you promised yourself you would.

Even if someone else is expecting it.

Even if it is something you usually enjoy.

Today, I'm not just telling you my story, I'm offering an invitation. Ask yourself: Where am I pushing through when what I really need is permission to pause? What am I afraid will happen if I let myself rest?

Then, perhaps, try replacing pressure with kindness, just for today. You might be surprised by what opens up when you do.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

This article first appeared on theNew Path Perspective blogby Kathy Muzik forNew Path Productivity®, LLC.