When was the last time you truly rested Not just stopped working, but actually let your soul breathe? Welcome to message 302 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Top Performance Tuesday the connection between rest and performance.

Yeah, I used to think rest was for people who couldn't handle the pace. Now I know it's for people who are serious about the race. Oh, do you like that little rhyme? Yeah, I remember a conversation I had with a friend who runs marathons. I asked him what's the biggest mistake rookies make. You know what he said they try to sprint the first few miles. Yeah, I did that on mine. It was quite funny. They confuse excitement for strategy. But the ones who finish well, they've learned how to pace, how to breathe, when to slow down and they can actually speed up. Man that landed hard because, let's be honest, a lot of us are still trying to sprint our way through every single season.

But here's the truth Rest is not the enemy of progress, it's the rhythm that keeps progress alive. So here are three things I've learned about rest and performance. Rest restores more than your body. It resets your focus, your attitude, your ability to see clearly. When I'm depleted, everything feels urgent. When I'm rested, I can actually prioritize. Number two rest is a skill, not a reward. This isn't something you quote, unquote, earn. It's something you practice, build on it, purpose on purpose, not just when you're falling short. And lastly, third point today, rest reminds you that your worth isn't tied to your output. You are not a machine. You're a leader, a creator, a human, and you lead best when you're not running on fumes.

Here's what I want you to do today Pause and ask yourself what kind of rest have I been avoiding and why? Maybe it's physical sleep, maybe it's spiritual rest, maybe it's just giving yourself a day without guilt. The goal isn't to collapse at the finish line, it's to still be standing when it counts the most. Thank you for calling Goat Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a message after the beep. No, for real. Please leave a message after the beep or send an email to Aaron at growthinstigatorscom and let me know what's one area of your life that's been running on empty and what kind of rest could change the way you lead this week and if your team is moving fast but running dry. I help leaders create rhythms of rest that actually increase results. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let's set up a discovery call and, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do.