I often catch myself thinking I'm incapable of relaxation. This belief surfaces when I reach what should be peaceful moments—a vacation, a day off—yet find my mind still racing at full speed.
Interpreting this worry as proof that I can't relax isn't accurate; I have experienced relaxation before. What I'm really experiencing is the natural deceleration of an overactive mind.
When you're driving 100 mph, the car doesn't instantly stop when you hit the brakes—it needs time and distance to safely come to rest. My mind works the same way. After running at full throttle through weeks or months, it needs time to slow down. Those racing thoughts aren't evidence of failure, but rather the metaphorical swerving that results from trying to stop too quickly.
The key is patience. Just as I wouldn't judge a car's ability to park by how quickly it can stop from highway speeds, I shouldn't judge my ability to relax by how quickly my mind can shift from high gear to neutral. Given time and space, the mental momentum naturally subsides, and on the other side of that deceleration lies the stillness I seek.
