Within a wellbeing context, mauri noho refers to being inactive physically, mentally, and spiritually. Sometimes this can be positive. For example, sleeping, resting, meditating (mau-ā-rongo) quiet activities, or choosing solitude to reflect and recharge.
Mauri noho is unhelpful when we should be active. When this happens we may have periods of worry, anxiety, pouri (sadness) or low mood, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, and self-isolation or retreating from others. Physically, we may experience tiredness that does not shift, pain in our puku (like ngau puku), headaches, lack of appetite, and drug and alcohol abuse. Not having the energy to do things that are important to you impacts on your sense of wellbeing.
- Lack of energy
- Not being able to concentrate
- Not enjoying what you usually do
- Feeling hopeless or helpless, āmaimai
- That you are not talking
- That you are keeping to yourself
- That you are not doing your usual roles/mahi
- That you are sleeping longer than usual
Mauri noho can occur because we feel unsafe, and feel unable to cope or manage. There are times when mauri noho is necessary, like being able to rest, taking your time, keeping quiet, or sleeping – but when we’re in mauri noho too long we can feel down and hopeless, and we can become anxious or worry to the point that we feel overwhelmed. When we have issues already affecting us, mauri noho may be a state we retreat to for safety quite quickly. At other times, we may end up in mauri noho without realising. Either way, it’s important to know that being there too long often makes things worse.
- Time to reflect and think
- Space away from demands
- Time to regenerate and heal
- A place of safety
- Able to show self-compassion
- Losing our routines
- Feeling like we can’t do anything
- Not doing the things that give us energy
- Constant anxiety
- Not valuing yourself
Reflections
Take some time and reflect, or discuss with your friends and whānau some of the following points:
- What does mauri noho look like for you? For your whānau? (What are you doing, feeling, thinking, noticing?)
- When is it helpful for you?
- What are signs that it’s no longer helpful? (These are our indicators to move towards tau.)
- What do you do to move from mauri noho to mauri tau? Below is also a list of suggestions. Have a go with identifying things you can do, and what ideas your whānau have.
