Why Slowing Down Feels So Hard (and why you need to do it anyway!)

In this heartfelt winddown of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa invites us to explore the very thing so many of us struggle with: rest. Through personal stories, cultural reflections, and gentle guidance, she helps us unpack why slowing down feels uncomfortable — and how to finally find peace in the pause.

Drawing from her upbringing in a traditional Dominican household, Vanessa shares how hustle culture, perfectionism, and even trauma can shape our relationship with rest. She walks us through how to rebuild safety in stillness by tending to the mind, listening to the body, and reconnecting with the soul.

Whether you're heading into summer overwhelmed or eager to reset, this episode offers a loving reminder: you don’t have to earn your rest. You are worthy of peace, presence, and joy — just as you are.



EPISODE DESCRIPTION
How cultural and emotional conditioning shapes our discomfort with rest
The hidden fears behind constant motion
Ways to create mental white space and emotional clarity
Practices to listen to your body and release stored tension
Small ways to nourish your soul and reconnect with your true self
An invitation to pause as we head into summer
A gentle ad for Amiga Moms™ Coaching and how to start your own journey


TUNE IN TO LEARN
Why hustle doesn’t always mean productivity
How perfectionism and trauma impact your ability to slow down
What brain dumps, grounding, and soul-play can do for your nervous system
Practical tools to rest your mind, body, and soul — no guilt necessary
How to start reconnecting with the version of you who felt like herself


TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
You’re not falling behind — you’re just overdue for rest. As the school year winds down and the podcast pauses for summer, let this episode remind you to slow down with intention. Because you don’t have to earn your rest — you just have to receive it.



Amiga Moms Private Coaching
https://www.amigamoms.com/coaching



120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills


CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmchallenge


1:1 PRIVATE COACHING FOR MOMS
https://www.amigamoms.com/coaching


SUBMIT QUESTIONS for CONSULT A COUNSELOR:
https://qrco.de/consultacounselor


WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


STAY CONNECTED:
Show Hashtag: #freetobemindfulpodcast
Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
All Social Channels: @counselorvdejesus


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only