* What are the key differences between striving and resting?

What are the key differences between striving and resting, considering not just the surface-level actions, but also the underlying motivations, emotional states, and long-term impacts on both mental and physical well-being? I’m interested in a nuanced comparison, going beyond simply “working hard” versus “doing nothing.” For example, how does striving fueled by intrinsic motivation differ from striving driven by fear of failure? What are the various forms of rest – active, passive, social, creative, spiritual – and how do they contrast with different types of striving? Finally, how does the balance between striving and resting contribute to a sustainable and fulfilling life, versus a life of burnout or stagnation?

Answer

Striving and resting are fundamentally different states of being, characterized by distinct physiological, psychological, and behavioral patterns. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences:

Striving:

• Goal Orientation: Striving is inherently future-oriented and driven by the pursuit of specific goals, ambitions, or desired outcomes. It involves conscious effort and a proactive approach to achieving something beyond the current state.

• Energy Expenditure: Striving demands significant energy expenditure, both physical and mental. It involves focused attention, sustained effort, and the overcoming of obstacles, leading to resource depletion. Metabolically, striving often activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones like cortisol.

• Focus & Attention: Striving requires a concentrated and directed focus of attention. Distractions are minimized, and cognitive resources are allocated towards problem-solving, planning, and executing tasks related to the goal.

• Stress & Challenge: Striving often involves experiencing stress, pressure, and challenges. These can be perceived as either threats or opportunities, influencing the individual’s response and coping mechanisms. Constructive striving sees these challenges as opportunities for growth, while maladaptive striving can lead to anxiety and burnout.

• Delay of Gratification: Striving frequently involves delaying immediate gratification in favor of long-term rewards. It requires discipline and the ability to resist impulses that might hinder progress towards the ultimate goal.

• Dopamine Release (Anticipatory): Striving is associated with the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation. This dopamine release is often anticipatory, occurring in response to progress towards the goal rather than solely upon its achievement.

• Cognitive Processes: Striving involves a range of cognitive processes, including planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and self-monitoring. It requires the ability to adapt strategies and adjust course as needed.

• Emotional State: Striving can evoke a complex range of emotions, including hope, excitement, determination, frustration, anxiety, and even fear of failure. The specific emotional experience depends on the perceived difficulty of the goal and the individual’s belief in their ability to achieve it.

• Behavioral Manifestations: Striving manifests in a variety of behaviors, including working diligently, studying, practicing, seeking feedback, networking, and taking calculated risks. It is characterized by action and purposeful engagement.

Resting:

• Relaxation & Recovery: Resting is primarily focused on relaxation, recovery, and rejuvenation. It involves reducing physical and mental exertion, allowing the body and mind to replenish resources.

• Energy Conservation: Resting aims to conserve energy and reduce metabolic demands. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated, slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and promoting digestion.

• Diffuse Attention: Resting allows for a more diffuse and unfocused attention. The mind can wander, engage in daydreaming, or simply observe the present moment without actively engaging in problem-solving or planning.

• Reduced Stress: Resting significantly reduces stress levels. The release of stress hormones is minimized, and the body enters a state of homeostasis.

• Present Moment Focus: Resting often involves a focus on the present moment, without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It is about being rather than doing.

• Serotonin and GABA Release: Resting promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, which contribute to feelings of calmness, relaxation, and well-being.

• Cognitive Processes: Cognitive processes during resting tend to be less demanding. Creativity and insight can emerge during periods of rest, as the mind is free to make connections that might not be apparent during focused striving.

• Emotional State: Resting is typically associated with positive emotions such as calmness, contentment, gratitude, and peace. It provides an opportunity to process emotions and integrate experiences.

• Behavioral Manifestations: Resting manifests in behaviors such as sleeping, napping, meditating, engaging in leisure activities, spending time in nature, or simply doing nothing. It is characterized by inactivity and a lack of purposeful engagement.

Summary Table:

Feature	Striving	Resting
Orientation	Future-oriented, goal-directed	Present-moment focused, recovery-oriented
Energy	High expenditure, resource depletion	Conservation, replenishment
Focus	Concentrated, directed	Diffuse, unfocused
Stress	Often present, can be a challenge	Reduced significantly
Gratification	Delayed	Immediate (relaxation, comfort)
Neurotransmitters	Dopamine (anticipatory)	Serotonin, GABA
Cognition	Planning, problem-solving, decision-making	Insight, creativity, integration
Emotions	Hope, anxiety, frustration, determination	Calmness, contentment, gratitude, peace
Behaviors	Working, studying, practicing, taking risks	Sleeping, meditating, leisure activities, doing nothing

In essence, striving is about doing and becoming, while resting is about being and recovering. Both are essential for well-being and optimal functioning. An imbalance, such as constant striving without adequate rest, can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Conversely, excessive resting without striving can result in stagnation and a lack of fulfillment. A healthy life requires a dynamic balance between these two fundamental states.

Pray This Prayer

Dear God, Source of all striving and all peace,

I come before you today, seeking understanding and balance in my life. I ask for clarity in discerning the difference between striving and resting.

Striving, I know, is fueled by a desire to achieve, to accomplish, to reach a goal. It’s driven by ambition, and often accompanied by effort, hard work, and even a sense of urgency. But sometimes, Lord, that striving becomes relentless. It can become a burden, fueled by anxiety and a fear of failure, blinding me to the beauty and grace that surrounds me. It can make me forget that my worth is not measured by my achievements.

Resting, on the other hand, seems like the antidote. It’s a surrender, a letting go of control. It’s finding peace in the present moment, trusting in your plan and your timing. It’s allowing myself to be nourished, to be renewed, to be filled with your Holy Spirit. But Lord, I struggle with this. I worry that resting is synonymous with laziness, with complacency, with a lack of ambition.

Help me, I pray, to understand that striving without rest is ultimately futile. It leads to burnout, exhaustion, and a loss of joy. And resting without purpose can lead to stagnation and a feeling of emptiness.

Show me how to weave these two essential elements together. Help me to strive with purpose, guided by your wisdom, and to rest with intention, allowing your peace to fill me. Grant me the discernment to know when to push forward and when to step back, when to work diligently and when to simply be still and know that you are God.

Help me find the rhythm of grace, a harmonious dance between effort and surrender, so that I may live a life that is both productive and peaceful, honoring you in all that I do.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.