The Unexpected Gift of Rest

Tracy The Health Coach
18 hours ago
4 min read

When you’re preparing for surgery, most people focus on the procedure itself.

But very few talk about this:

The level of peace you have going into surgery matters.

Rest is not laziness. Rest is not slacking off. Rest is preparation. Rest is protection.

Before Surgery:

Close What You Can

Before my surgery, to the best of my ability, I closed off what needed closing.

Loose ends. Work communication. Anything that could pull on my mind.

Once I did that, I was able to truly relax — knowing I had done what I could.

And that relaxed attitude matters and it really helped me approach the date with strength.

The last thing your body needs before surgery is elevated cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

High cortisol before surgery can:

Suppress your immune system
Increase inflammation
Slow the healing and thus recovery process

Your body is about to go through trauma (even controlled trauma). It needs calm, not chaos and not high stress levels.

When Stress Tries to Creep In

What life lessons have you already learnt that you can apply when things don’t go your way — especially before surgery?

The day before surgery, I received a phone call saying there was a possibility the surgery might be cancelled.

Years ago, that could have sent my stress levels soaring.

But life lessons in the last few years have taught me:

When a door closes, don’t fight it. It could be for your own good.

So instead of stressing, I surrendered. There could be something going on beyond what I'd been told, that I may not see and I'm ultimately being protected.

Drawing on what you've learnt through other stressful times or life lessons will give you peace and shield you in a healthy way from life's many unforseens, which there always will be. You always have control in how you respond to life. This is where your peace will come in and your stress levels will be lower.

What Do You Reach for When You Feel Afraid?

Have A Go-To Stress-Releasing Technique For Intensely Stressful Times

Shortly before going into theatre, I thought to myself "This is real!" Fear started creeping in. I repeatedly recited my favourite verse Isaiah 41:10:

“Do not fear, for I am with you…”

Repeating it helped me stay in peace. I had also prayed in surrender.

Before and after surgery, I felt peace.

In recovery, the nurse even asked if I had really had surgery because I was so jolly.

Peace & Surrender are powerful.

What can you go to in moments of fear?

Fear before surgery is natural. You can also have something to help you when it comes.

Guarding Your Peace Is Your Responsibility

Guard Your Recovery

Before surgery, I switched off my work phone.

No one forced me. No one told me to.

I realised: some things are on us.

Even if people didn’t know I was having surgery, it was my responsibility to guard myself.

I know my curiosity. If I saw messages, I’d want to read them "just to see". If I read them, I’d have to respond, because that's my nature. If I responded, I’d be working and not resting. After fully recovering from Long Covid after a 5 year journey, I protect my health more than the Secret Service protect the president of the U.S. Health is not only your wealth, Health is your joy, Health is your comfort, Health is your peace and money can not buy these!

So I removed the temptation by switching off the work phone.

When I eventually turned the phone back on, there were many messages.

And yet…

Nothing catastrophic had happened. Life had gone on perfectly well...without me.

There are many memes that remind us to do what matters because we are dispensable.

When you leave this earth, life will go on very well without you.

A freeing truth because if you are feeling tired, overwhelmed, exhausted, you CAN take a break, nothing will crumble.

The guilt that says you must respond immediately?

The guilt that keeps you working late and sacrificing your sleep?

Gently drop that guilt. It's had its time.

Go to sleep.

It can wait.

It can ALL wait!

Why Rest Improves Surgical Recovery

When you give yourself permission to properly rest before and after surgery:

Your nervous system stays regulated
Recovery can be smoother
Inflammation can be lower
You regain strength sooner

Which means you return to life restored (excluding complications & pain from surgery)

The Unexpected Gift of Rest

During recovery, I watched movies and TV.

But what I enjoyed most were the revelations.

Rest showed me:

How I was approaching things
Where I was creating unnecessary pressure & stress for myself to the point of having chest pain
How I could respond differently

Now that I’ve resumed normal activity, that change in approach is keeping me peaceful — and joyful — even though nothing externally dramatic has changed and some things will probably not change! When you rest, you are seeking and pursuing peace and you will love it! There will also be much more to gain from it than you can anticipate.