Radical Rest

In Resurgence, Matt Carmichael surveys seven kinds of exhaustion and tiredness which characterize modern life: sleepiness, fatigue, ennui, satiation, despair, disillusionment, and stress. Given all the burdens of work and making ends meet, many people are running on empty. Surveys show that more people are sleep-deprived now than ever before. Carmichael tells an instructive story: "When the Emperor of Persia asked his Sufi master how best to renew his soul, he was told to sleep as much as possible because 'The longer you sleep, the less you will oppress.' " The author also discusses antidotes to our exhaustion — play, sacrifice, compassion, education, and meditation. We recognize those as elements of the practices in the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy. When we live fully and deeply, we revive ourselves and are better able to serve others.