Forgive Yourself For Idleness That Occurred Because You Were Dealing With Issues

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Over the past ten years, through my autoimmune illness, I have thought a lot about the title of this book. I don’t remember reading the book, the plot narrative, or the middle parts, yet the title still speaks to me.

How does a bird sit in a cage and sing?

I spent the first years of my illness feeling like a prisoner. The house I loved suddenly turned into walls of bars and claustrophobia and simply a prison because I couldn’t physically leave. I couldn’t move. My body stopped, and my bed was the only thing and place that worked for me. For days on end, weeks on end, I felt like a prisoner to my circumstance.

And yet, somehow, a bird sings. I learned in those moments the power of contentment. In finding peace in our circumstances. In finding worth in so many other places.

It’s hard not to connect our self-worth to productivity, especially in a world that constantly pushes us to do more, be more, and achieve more. We live in a society where hustle culture is celebrated, our accomplishments are often used to measure our value, and rest or slowing down can sometimes feel like failure.

But here’s the truth: no one, absolutely no one, can be 100% “on” all the time. We are not machines. We are human with lives that are complex, unpredictable, and full of moments that demand our attention in different ways. Sometimes, things happen—life happens—for me, illness occurred—and it pulls us in directions we didn’t anticipate. Maybe it’s a family emergency, a health issue, or just the need to step back and recharge. Whatever it is, there are times when our focus needs to shift, and that’s okay. It’s normal, necessary, and doesn’t diminish your worth.

We often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, expecting to be productive and “on top of things” daily, no matter what else is happening in our lives. I did. Constantly. I thought I needed to be perfect. And Type A was my game.

But life isn’t that predictable or straightforward. There will be days, weeks, or even months – and for me, years – when other priorities, my illness, take center stage, your attention is needed elsewhere, and your productivity—at least in the traditional sense—takes a back seat. This doesn’t mean you’re failing or not doing enough. It simply means you’re human, navigating the ebbs and flows of life and responding to what’s most important at the moment—listening to life and your body.

Forgive yourself for not always being at your most productive according to the world. Forgive yourself for the days when your to-do list goes unfinished or when your energy is spent on something other than work or goals. You are doing your best with the time, energy, and resources that you have. And that is enough. Find peace in that. In letting go. In understanding that’s okay to be okay. You are enough, even when you’re not checking off all the boxes or hitting every target.

And believe me, you are still loved.

The reality is that your worth is not tied to how much you get done in a day. It’s not tied to how many tasks you accomplish or how quickly you can move from one thing to another. Your worth is inherent in who you are, not what you produce.

Productivity can be wonderful, and achieving goals is fulfilling. Trust me, I am the most ambitious person on the planet, but that’s only one part of the equation. I have had to learn this the hard way.

Rest, reflection, and caring for your mental and emotional well-being are just as important, if not more so. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you cannot be your best self if you’re running on fumes, constantly pushing yourself without allowing time to breathe.

I challenge you to think about all the times you’ve been hard on yourself for not “doing enough.” Now, imagine how different it would feel if you offered yourself the same kindness and understanding you would give to a friend instead of criticizing yourself.

What would you say if a friend came to you and said they were overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with everything, and feeling guilty for not being more productive? You wouldn’t tell them to push themselves harder or that they weren’t doing enough. You would remind them that life is hard, that it’s okay to have off days or even weeks, and that they’re still doing great. So why not offer that same compassion to yourself?

There’s so much power in the simple act of letting go of the guilt and accepting that you’re doing what you can with what you have in the moment you’re in. You are in but a season.

Why is it so hard for us to accept that?

Life is not a race, and it’s not a competition to see who can do the most. It’s a journey, and it’s meant to be lived fully—not just in the moments of high productivity and achievement but also in the quiet, restful moments—the times when you allow yourself to pause, take a step back, and tend to the other parts of your life that need your attention.

I have found power in the most quiet, restful moments. I have connected and heard God in the darkest and deepest moments of solitude. He is there. He is waiting. And He is listening. We must stop and be still.

Thus, taking care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally is just as important—if not more important—than ticking off boxes on a to-do list. When you permit yourself to rest, take breaks, and redirect your energy when needed, you preserve your well-being and set yourself up for greater success in the long run. It’s during those moments of pause that we can gain clarity, perspective, and the strength to keep moving forward.

The next time you feel guilty for not being as productive as you should be, take a deep breath and remind yourself: You are doing your best. You are worthy, even when you’re not at your most productive. And it’s okay—more than OK—to prioritize your well-being, to shift your focus when life demands it, and to give yourself the grace and compassion that you so freely give to others.

You are enough; you are loved, just as you are.I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Over the past ten years, through my autoimmune illness, I have thought a lot about the title of this book. I don’t remember reading the book, the plot narrative, or the middle parts, yet the title still speaks to me.

How does a bird sit in a cage and sing?

I spent the first years of my illness feeling like a prisoner. The house I loved suddenly turned into walls of bars and claustrophobia and simply a prison because I couldn’t physically leave. I couldn’t move. My body stopped, and my bed was the only thing and place that worked for me. For days on end, weeks on end, I felt like a prisoner to my circumstance.

And yet, somehow, a bird sings. I learned in those moments the power of contentment. In finding peace in our circumstances. In finding worth in so many other places.

It’s hard not to connect our self-worth to productivity, especially in a world that constantly pushes us to do more, be more, and achieve more. We live in a society where hustle culture is celebrated, our accomplishments are often used to measure our value, and rest or slowing down can sometimes feel like failure.

But here’s the truth: no one, absolutely no one, can be 100% “on” all the time. We are not machines. We are human with lives that are complex, unpredictable, and full of moments that demand our attention in different ways. Sometimes, things happen—life happens—for me, illness occurred—and it pulls us in directions we didn’t anticipate. Maybe it’s a family emergency, a health issue, or just the need to step back and recharge. Whatever it is, there are times when our focus needs to shift, and that’s okay. It’s normal, necessary, and doesn’t diminish your worth.

We often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, expecting to be productive and “on top of things” daily, no matter what else is happening in our lives. I did. Constantly. I thought I needed to be perfect. And Type A was my game.

But life isn’t that predictable or straightforward. There will be days, weeks, or even months – and for me, years – when other priorities, my illness, take center stage, your attention is needed elsewhere, and your productivity—at least in the traditional sense—takes a back seat. This doesn’t mean you’re failing or not doing enough. It simply means you’re human, navigating the ebbs and flows of life and responding to what’s most important at the moment—listening to life and your body.

Forgive yourself for not always being at your most productive according to the world. Forgive yourself for the days when your to-do list goes unfinished or when your energy is spent on something other than work or goals. You are doing your best with the time, energy, and resources that you have. And that is enough. Find peace in that. In letting go. In understanding that’s okay to be okay. You are enough, even when you’re not checking off all the boxes or hitting every target.

And believe me, you are still loved.

The reality is that your worth is not tied to how much you get done in a day. It’s not tied to how many tasks you accomplish or how quickly you can move from one thing to another. Your worth is inherent in who you are, not what you produce.

Productivity can be wonderful, and achieving goals is fulfilling. Trust me, I am the most ambitious person on the planet, but that’s only one part of the equation. I have had to learn this the hard way.

Rest, reflection, and caring for your mental and emotional well-being are just as important, if not more so. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you cannot be your best self if you’re running on fumes, constantly pushing yourself without allowing time to breathe.

I challenge you to think about all the times you’ve been hard on yourself for not “doing enough.” Now, imagine how different it would feel if you offered yourself the same kindness and understanding you would give to a friend instead of criticizing yourself.

What would you say if a friend came to you and said they were overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with everything, and feeling guilty for not being more productive? You wouldn’t tell them to push themselves harder or that they weren’t doing enough. You would remind them that life is hard, that it’s okay to have off days or even weeks, and that they’re still doing great. So why not offer that same compassion to yourself?

There’s so much power in the simple act of letting go of the guilt and accepting that you’re doing what you can with what you have in the moment you’re in. You are in but a season.

Why is it so hard for us to accept that?

Life is not a race, and it’s not a competition to see who can do the most. It’s a journey, and it’s meant to be lived fully—not just in the moments of high productivity and achievement but also in the quiet, restful moments—the times when you allow yourself to pause, take a step back, and tend to the other parts of your life that need your attention.

I have found power in the most quiet, restful moments. I have connected and heard God in the darkest and deepest moments of solitude. He is there. He is waiting. And He is listening. We must stop and be still.

Thus, taking care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally is just as important—if not more important—than ticking off boxes on a to-do list. When you permit yourself to rest, take breaks, and redirect your energy when needed, you preserve your well-being and set yourself up for greater success in the long run. It’s during those moments of pause that we can gain clarity, perspective, and the strength to keep moving forward.

The next time you feel guilty for not being as productive as you should be, take a deep breath and remind yourself: You are doing your best. You are worthy, even when you’re not at your most productive. And it’s okay—more than OK—to prioritize your well-being, to shift your focus when life demands it, and to give yourself the grace and compassion that you so freely give to others.

You are enough; you are loved, just as you are.