Recently I realized that I've been sleep deprived for most of my life. "Get 8 hours of sleep" is just another piece of sound advice that I've ignored. After listening to a podcast[1], I was convinced I could no longer avoid this advice. I resolved to turn off all screens an hour before I wanted to be asleep and to make sure that I had enough time to sleep. Though I saw benefits, I found my heart pounding and my mind racing as I tried to sleep. Meditation, yoga, lights off, writing in a journal helped some, but not enough. I finally came up with this parable to help.
We all have two types of warriors: awake warriors and asleep warriors. The awake warriors are ambitious and courageous. They help us face the obstacles of the day. The sleep warriors help us to rejuvenate at night. My problem is that the awake warriors dominate. The awake warriors have been given the best weapons and fastest horses to help extend my day so that I could have more fun, succeed in school, and help care for small children. As a result, they have received my praise and support. I throw parades in their honor.
Meanwhile, the sleep warriors have been defeated. I have taken away their weapons and horses, ignored their pleas. As a result, I wake up every morning exhausted and unready for the day.
The awake warriors dominate, so they keep me awake to waste time on screens: binge watching shows, playing mindless games. There is no longer a meaningful purpose. They just do it because they are used to it.
But that is the past.
This last week I called all warriors to a counsel.
I told the awake warriors that I am taking away all of their weapons and fast horses and giving them to the sleep warriors. I told the awake warriors that if they didn't yield to the sleep warriors, that I would cut out their tongues, gouge out their eyes, cut off their hands. I told them that I appreciated what they had done for me in the past, but that their glory days were over.
I told the sleep warriors to rise up, take courage. That I would provide every resource to them. That they were my new favored warriors. That I would defend them, give them the best weapons and fastest horses.
That night, The sleep warriors helped me have the most restful sleep in a long time.
Then I realized that I was too harsh to the awake warriors. I realized that I still needed them. I needed them to give me courage during the day. To remind me of my responsibilities during the day. To drive me during the day. Instead of a battle at bedtime, I decided it would be a changing of the guards. It was time to call all warriors to counsel. Give the awake warriors a final say for the day, but them hand guard over to the sleep warriors. The awake warriors could rest knowing that I would give them full attention in the morning and throughout the next day. The sleep warriors felt respected as they were honored to receive full charge over me with out a battle. They would have energy to help rejuvenate my body while I slept.
I now have more hope for the future since instead of spending energy on battling, it will be replaced with collaboration.
Resources:
[1] https://www.successpodcast.com/show-notes/2018/1/3/everything-you-know-about-sleep-is-wrong-with-dr-matthew-walker
[2] Thanks to Adam from http://move-aware.com for being my mentor while I worked through his APART worksheet.
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