Soft Life Movement & Reclaiming Rest

Rejecting hustle culture and embracing peace, softness, boundaries, and intentional living

Dr. Valerie Maxsam. PsyD August 5, 2025

A woman peacefully rests with her eyes closed on a comfortable couch, embodying the essence of tranquility and the message: "Reclaiming Rest: The Soft Life Starts Here."

The culture we live in has worked overtime to blur the lines—not just between masculinity and femininity—but between strength and softness, independence and partnership, hustle and rest. I’m not just talking about attitudes or mannerisms (though those have certainly shifted too). I’m speaking to the belief that we, as women, must do it all alone to prove we are enough . . .

. . . That we must compete with men to validate our worth, rather than stand in the fullness of who we are.

When God formed woman from man’s rib, His intention was never for us to be rivals or isolated in our efforts. Scripture says:

“Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” — Genesis 2:22, NIV

We were created to walk alongside one another—distinct, but equal. Interdependent, not in competition.

Let’s take a deeper look at Genesis 3:16, where God says to Eve:

“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” — Genesis 3:16, NIV

The Hebrew word for desire is “teshuqah”, which means to long for, to turn toward, or to desire deeply. Although this was a consequence of Eve’s actions, it can also be seen as a divine redirection. Rather than a punishment rooted in pain, it was a call to return her heart toward her husband—a position she may not have fully honored before.

She would now long for the very relationship she had failed to prioritize. In this way, desire wasn’t just about dependence; it was about realignment.

God also said, “he will rule over you.” The word for rule is “mashal,” meaning to govern or have dominion. This, too, was part of the consequence—but not God's original design. It was a structural necessity introduced to maintain stability in a now-fractured relationship. Adam’s leadership became a safeguard, not a sentence.

Yes, Sisters—I hear you. We are no longer under the old covenant or the penalty that came with sin. However, the intentions of God are just as valid today as they were in Eden. We were always meant to move in harmony with men, not rivalry. We were always meant to complement—not compete.

And this goes far beyond marriage, although it should most definitely be visible there. This is about how we show up in the world. It’s about the restoration of divine balance—living, leading, and loving side-by-side.

A couple happily reviews and signs documents together in the office.

You don’t have to mute your femininity to lead. You don’t have to harden your softness to succeed. You don’t have to reject peace to be powerful.

Let me tell you something, Ladies:

There is nothing more captivating than a woman who knows exactly who she is—secure in her God-given identity, radiant in her feminine grace—and completely unbothered by standing next to a man who can hold his own.

If you’ve believed the lie that independence means isolation—or that being soft makes you weak—I invite you to rethink, reevaluate, and reclaim rest.

Reclaim Rest

When you step into who you were created to be, you’ll begin to accomplish more with less struggle. You’ll stop striving and start thriving. You’ll experience the peace that comes from divine alignment. You’ll give yourself permission to rest. To soften. To live.

Because the soft life?

It’s not just a trend.

It’s a return to Eden.

Next Week’s Blog: Is Feminism Godly?

With love and grace,

Dr. Val

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