“Still Waters Run Deep": The Importance of Rest

Still Waters Run Deep: The Importance of Rest in Black Male Excellence

We’ve been taught to keep grinding. “Sleep when you’re dead.” “No days off.” “Get it out the mud.” Even Kevin Gates started off saying "IDGT" but was caught lacking sleep on the plane. The pressure to perform, provide, and persevere weighs heavy on us due to our innate hustler's spirit—and rest gets labeled as weakness. But let’s be clear: rest is power. Stillness is strategy. And in this season of our evolution, silence speaks louder than noise.

We don’t rest because we’re lazy. We rest so we can lead. Still waters doesn’t mean anything’s happening beneath the surface. It means there’s depth, composure, and control. 

Why We Need to Reframe Rest

Growing up, many of us were conditioned to go without. As a kid, we though naps were punishment. Slowing down meant getting left behind. That mindset followed us into adulthood where we learned that a quick power nap will bring you back to life on those days that you're grinding. We equate exhaustion with worth and burnout with success. Working two jobs to provide is insane, but working two jobs with an end goal in my mind can be life changing. But overworking isn't noble—it’s destructive. Especially when it’s rooted in survival mode.

Being aware is about knowing when to pause, protect, and protect yourself by being mindful of yourself. Quite often, we tend to be our "Biggest Enemy"

The Science of Stillness

Chronic fatigue leads to poor decision-making, low testosterone, higher cortisol levels, anxiety, depression, and yes—even physical hair loss and poor skin quality. Your body doesn’t just need rest—it’s wired for it. Quality sleep rebuilds cells, reduces inflammation, improves focus, and restores your emotional resilience. That’s fuel for the next move, not a break from it.

Take Care of Yourself By:

  • Set Boundaries: Say no to what's not aligned. You can’t pour from an empty vessel.
  • Create Wind-Down Rituals: Light a candle, journal, read, or apply your skincare with intention. Let your nervous system settle.
  • Go Dark Before You Sleep: Avoid blue light and overstimulation before bed. Trade the screen for silence.
  • Reclaim the Nap: A 20–30 minute recharge isn’t lazy—it’s calculated. Athletes and CEOs do it. So can you.

Rest as Resistance

Rest is revolutionary when you were never meant to have it. In a system built on our exhaustion, choosing peace becomes a form of protest. It says: I am not here to die for the hustle. I’m here to live for my purpose.

Quiet time helps you hear your own voice. It resets your spirit. And in that space, you find clarity that grinding can’t give you.

Final Thought

Still waters run deep. Stillness doesn’t mean stagnant. It means solid, sure, and steady. As a Black man, your rest is not a reward—it’s your right. Excellence isn’t about constant motion. It’s about mastering your rhythm.

Take your time. Protect your crown. You are worthy of stillness—and everything it brings.

This is The Life As It Should Be Lived™—refined, rooted, and resonant.

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