Slow Is Sacred: Reclaiming Self-Trust in a World That Demands Hustle

“You don’t have to earn your rest. You are worthy of peace…now.”

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting, questioned yourself for needing a break, or told yourself “I’ll slow down after I finish this one last thing,” beloved, you’re not alone.

As Black women, we’re often handed an invisible script, one that praises our strength while quietly demanding our silence, speed, and sacrifice. That script is rooted in what Dr. Cheryl Giscombé called the Superwoman Schema (SWS), a framework identifying the pressure many Black women feel to suppress emotions, avoid vulnerability, resist help, and remain persistently resilient, even in the face of stress and burnout.

But here’s what they didn’t teach us enough of:

Self-trust is a form of resistance. Slowing down is an act of self-preservation.

The Psychology Behind Speed & Distrust of Rest

From a trauma-informed lens, many of us stay in motion not because we want to, but because our nervous systems have learned that safety lives in productivity.

We internalize messages like:

• “If I slow down, I’ll fall behind.”

• “If I rest, people will think I’m lazy.”

• “If I’m not needed, I’m not valuable.”

These messages aren’t just personal, they’re systemic. Studies in neuropsychology and somatic therapy show that the body often responds to chronic stress by staying in fight-or-flight mode. That can look like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or “I got it” energy… even when we’re running on empty.

But here’s the truth:

Trusting your body’s cues, especially when they whisper instead of scream, is not a weakness. It’s wisdom.

What Self-Trust Actually Looks Like

Self-trust isn’t just about believing you can do hard things. It’s about knowing when not to.

It’s about being so in tune with yourself that you no longer override your needs just to meet someone else’s expectations.

Here are a few self-trust practices you can begin today:

• Pause before you say yes. Ask: Is this a genuine yes or a guilt yes?

• Rest when you’re tired, not when you’ve earned it. Your worth isn’t transactional.

• Name what you need out loud. Even if only to yourself at first.

• Practice saying “not today” without explanation. Let your no be a full sentence and a sacred boundary.

Relearning Rest as a Ritual

At Yemaya Wellness Center, we often remind our clients that slowing down isn’t quitting, it’s recalibrating.

In our Rehumanizing Method™, we blend somatic movement, guided breath work, and journaling to help Black women move from urgency to ease. Because the truth is: you cannot pour from an empty cup, nor should you have to.

Research shows that intentional rest improves executive functioning, reduces anxiety, and fosters long-term emotional resilience. More importantly, it returns us to ourselves.

An Invitation to Your Nervous System

This week, I invite you to reclaim one moment.

Just one moment where you don’t push through.

Where you cancel the task. Or sit longer with your tea. Or say “I need a pause.”

You don’t have to explain your need for stillness.

You only need to honor it.

Journal Prompt:

What does my body truly need today and how can I respond with care, not criticism?

Affirmation:

I trust my body. I honor my needs. I reclaim my rhythm.

When we reclaim our right to slow down, we reclaim our wholeness.

And that, beloved, is revolutionary.

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Yemaya Wellness Center is a boutique virtual mental health practice centering high-functioning Black women through culturally affirming, embodied healing. Learn more about our services here.