Healing Isn’t Lazy: Why Rest is a Leadership Tool
Dear Visionaries,
Somewhere along the journey, many of us were taught that healing is a detour — something we earn after the work is done. That rest is a reward for productivity, not a rhythm for wholeness.
But here's what I’ve learned — and am still learning:
Healing is not a detour. It’s the destination.
And rest is not laziness — it’s leadership.
After completing my Ph.D., I thought I’d feel unstoppable — clear, capable, climbing the next ladder with ease. But almost immediately, the question came like a drumbeat:
“So, what’s next?”
It wasn’t an unfair question — not after years of sacrifice, long nights, and discipline. But it was overwhelming. Not because I lacked direction, but because I hadn’t yet had the space to breathe. To be.
When I entered the program, I had a clear vision: purpose-driven, service-minded, rooted in impact. But the experience — both the academic rigor and the personal evolution it demanded — changed me. And yet, no one seemed to speak to the need for grace between the milestone and the mandate. It felt like the moment I crossed the stage, I was expected to sprint into the next season.
I was tired.
Not just physically.
But spiritually.
I didn’t want to chase anymore — I wanted to reclaim. To return to myself.
To take back my narrative.
To give myself the same grace academia rarely offers: time to honor the becoming.
Rest, for me, became more than recovery.
It became a way to hone in on a vision that is sustainable, not just trending.
A Deeper Truth
As I wrote in my dissertation — which centers Black women in leadership and the ways we navigate our multiple roles — we often carry invisible weights.
We’re socialized to overachieve. To outperform. To outlast.
The pressure to be exceptional is not imagined — it is researched, lived, and repeated.
But that level of performance, especially without pause, can fracture our ability to discern what we truly need. And more importantly, who we truly are becoming.
💎 This Week’s Jewel: Reflection Prompts
If you're feeling stretched thin, I invite you to pause and reflect:
What parts of your life are calling for healing — not fixing, but tending?
Where have you equated exhaustion with excellence?
How can you create more space for rest as a ritual, not just a recovery?
Joy Work (your healing assignment):
This week, try one of the following:
✨ Schedule a non-negotiable pause. Even 20 minutes. No agenda. No guilt.
✨ Say “no” without explanation. Let your boundaries be sacred.
✨ Create a softness ritual. Light a candle. Play music. Breathe deep — not because you’ve earned it, but because you’re already worthy.
📚 Jewel for Your Bookshelf
If this week’s message stirred something in you, I invite you to explore:
✨ Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole, Authentic Self
by Dr. Thema Bryant
Dr. Thema speaks directly to the sacred work of healing — not as a luxury, but as a return. Her words are a balm for those of us who have achieved so much while carrying so much.
“You do not have to disappear into the roles you play for others.”
Let this book accompany you as you honor the parts of you that are still finding their way home.
🗣 Let’s Talk
What does healing look like in your life right now?
How are you reclaiming rest in a world that rarely slows down?
Hit reply or share in the comments — I’d love to hear what your healing process is teaching you.
With grace and rest,
Dr. Sheletha Harmon
Curator of Visionary Jewels 💎
Thank you for reading Visionary Jewels — a sacred space for healing, self-discovery, purpose, and passion.
🌿 If this resonated with you, share it with someone who’s walking their own becoming journey.
You never know who needs a jewel today.
With clarity and care,
Dr. Sheletha Harmon
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✨ Rest is powerful. Joy is essential. You are a Visionary Jewel.