It is necessary to be aware of one’s emotional state. One needs to be cognizant of the stressors that exist and the distractions one may turn to. It is good to look back in hindsight and recognize these aggravations. A man must understand how they push him in one direction or the other, but hindsight is not enough. There will be times in the future when these same stressors will return, and one needs to needs to take account of his emotional state and make wise decisions.
Rest is important. Leisure is important. One needs to identify the activities that give one true rest. They recreate man again so that he can have the energy to continue forward in life. This is what recreation gives man. Recreare in Latin means to create again, renew. Recratio the noun meaning restoration and recovery became Old French and from there English picked it up. Recreation is key to a life well lived.
There are activities and entertainment that can give one a false sense of relaxation. They do not refresh man, but instead exhaust him after he partakes in them. They do not rebuild, but rather distract. Man turns to these false forms of recreation in times of stress, but they will never give him the refreshment he seeks. They offer an easy initial buzz of pleasure in a steady drip, but it ends with a feeling of emptiness. Something vital has been lost.
Instead seek out the lost art of leisure. Forms of relaxation that revitalize oneself. Activities that are not work, but still grant one with a quiet sense of accomplishment and gladness. Discovering these hobbies will help one understand himself better. The recreational pursuits that rebuilds oneself are the brick and mortar which constructs an individual. Remember that prayer to God will always give oneself true rest.
