Power in the Pause: How to create space for magic
In a chaotic, noisy world, stillness and pause can be transformative.
Many of us go about our day without taking a single break or moment to pause. We wear the title “busy” as a badge of honor and run ourselves into the ground as we search for our “next thing.”
This lifestyle, however, is not sustainable. I learned that the hard way. I was constantly sprinting to the “next thing” until I hit a brick wall. That brick wall was the first time that I got knocked on my tail- it forced me to stop. It forced me to pause.
Until the brick wall, I truly believed power only came from doing. But once I was forced to pause, I discovered power came from pause.
Let me elaborate.
When we think of our lives it can easily become a question of “what do I need to do next?” It is normal to get caught up in a routine or to really want to push through a project or activity. However, in order to make the most of an experience—to learn from it, solve problems, or experience personal growth—we must pause.
These pauses are where the true magic happens. Things that we are meant to hear can now show up because we created the space for it. Pausing in a healthy way can help us handle the challenges life gives us with greater skill. It keeps us from living life on autopilot. The key is to find a healthy balance between activity and inactivity.
Tips for pausing:
Here are some things you can do to pause mindfully:
Remind yourself often. Since it’s easy to get caught up in daily routines, and hectic schedules, reminding yourself to pause is super important. I recommend you set some sort of reminder on your smartphone once a week/biweekly, or write the word “pause” on a post-it note and put it on your bathroom mirror.
Relax. Use at least part of your pause as a chance to relax your mind and body. Explore what goes on in your mind when you are taking a break. Do you get stir-crazy? Nervous? As you notice how you are doing, ask where those feelings come from. Use your pauses as moments for mindful awareness.
Make Small Changes. Be kind to yourself. Let this be a gift to yourself, not something that feels like another item on your “to-do list.” Pauses make space for magic, but that magic can be anything big or small.
