Balancing Hustle, Rest, and Faith: Healing While Grinding
Balancing Hustle, Rest, and Faith: Healing While Grinding
Is this a safe space???? This whole “balance” thing? It’s harder than it looks. Life feels like a constant tug-of-war between grinding for the future and enjoying the present. And if we’re being honest, I think a big part of that struggle comes from financial trauma.
Growing up, I saw my mom hustle to give me opportunities, and I’m forever grateful. But that grind mentality left an imprint. Rest wasn’t really an option…it was something you earned after you’d done the absolute most. Now, as an adult, I find myself battling the same mindset. If I’m not working toward the next goal, I feel like I’m slacking.
Let’s talk about the guilt that creeps in when you take a moment to breathe. Like, I know rest is necessary, but part of me thinks, Why are you sitting when there’s money to be made? And don’t even get me started on the numbers. Between student loans that feel like mortgage payments (AHHHHHH- I’m scurrrred- Biden pleaaaaseeeee) and inflation making $300 disappear faster than I can blink, resting feels like a luxury I can’t afford.
I’m learning this hustle mentality doesn’t come from nowhere. Financial trauma is real, and it can feed the guilt around resting. Watching my mom do what she had to do taught me resilience, but it also made me feel like I have to be in constant motion. Actually, writing this has me thinking that’s something I’ll probably start to unpack in therapy. I guess I’m going to keep my girl employed this year.
Financial trauma can shape our relationship with work and rest. It’s not just about money—it’s about safety, stability, and self-worth. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t pause because everything might fall apart, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you, trying to find peace in the pause.
And don’t forget, rest is not laziness. It’s a reset. It’s a way to show up for yourself and your goals without burning out. And let’s not forget: faith without works is dead, but so is work without balance. One of my major goals is to follow the Philippians scripture: worry about nothing, pray about everything. I know I have everything I need to succeed, and if I don’t, I trust that God will bless me in His timing.
Sometimes I remind myself that not everything has to be a moneymaker. I don’t need to monetize my joy. If I want to dance, bake cookies, or binge my favorite show, I don’t need to package it into a side hustle. Shoutout to the creatives turning hobbies into incomes, but some things can just be for us.
This week, I’m focusing on balance. Which is why this blog is coming out a 4PM and not 10AM, thanks for being patient with me. I’m meeting my financial goals, working on my business, and still making time to rest. Balance, for me, means aligning my actions with my values—praying, grinding, resting, and repeating. It’s not perfect, and I’m still figuring it out, but that’s the beauty of it.
Let’s figure this out together. We’re in this mess of life, loans, and living well as a team. Whether you’re working a 9-to-5, building a business, or doing both, let’s remind each other that it’s okay to rest. It’s okay to grind. It’s okay to trust that we’re on the right path.
Resources for Reflection and Growth
Books:
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers (Black voices on building wealth while living your best life)
The Joy of Missing Out by Tonya Dalton (On balance and saying no to hustle culture)
Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom by Paris Woods
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Articles and Blogs:
Rest as Resistance: The Nap Ministry’s Guide to Slowing Down (Tricia Hersey's reflections on the power of rest)
The Budgetnista Blog by Tiffany Aliche (Financial empowerment for balance and freedom)
My Digitial Planner and Self Care Bundle is on SALE, now for $10
So, what does balance look like for you this week? What’s working for you right now? What’s hard? Drop your thoughts below—this community is here for all of it! Let’s chat about in the comments.
