I Spent Years Moving So Fast I Couldn't Hear Myself Anymore!
The Wisdom of the Pause
Pausing felt like wasted time most of my life! There's places to go, people to see & things to do! A pause only slowed me down and put off the good stuff. I had a To-Do list, loaded with important things to get done that week. The details were a blur of a business that I created.
Why was I doing all of this stuff? I noticed, I felt depleted and I was burning out. Setting the intention to make some changes, brought me new tools like meditation, energy clearing, and breathwork - I learned the value of slowing down. Letting go of old ways of thinking that weren't helpful anymore, I learned to trust and like who I was again. All of this happened when I was in PAUSE mode. Because I couldn’t hear myself when I was moving too fast, it took slowing down to learn to tune in.
Every living thing has seasons and cycles, natural ebbs and flows of growth & pushing, coasting & relaxing and even a time to stop & rest.
Age, experience and even wisdom from making lots of mistakes, taught me to be myself in the season that I’m experiencing. It is helpful to have a time of quiet with no outside noise, to be able to notice, and choose my path going forward.
How this showed up for me…
Honestly- I enjoyed the momentum of the Running Horse Energy early this year - it was enough to help me snap out of the dullness I felt from cancer & radiation last summer. It helped me to get going again!! I’m grateful for that type of energy. Early this year, I still felt so uncomfortable, but this energy of movement going forward (the running horse energy) was helpful to look ahead towards better days to come. It helped me to take action with integrity, towards my goals for the year. And to move forward from feeling stuck.
Last year,The Pause came when I was sick from the effects of radiation treatments. It was forced on me and I resented that. After some time - I let go of the resentment, and just found comfort in the stillness. Baby steps towards improvement.
Today a pause feels nice. A few of my favorite ways to pause & unplug:
- Sleeping in an extra hour, napping, or going to bed early if I need it.
- Sitting on the porch, watching the rain.
- Going to the beach
- Driving with the windows down - listening to my favorite music, singing along.
The Pause doesn’t need a to-do list! It actually requires that we DON’T have one! The pause can feel frivolous when there’s pressing items pulling on my attention. And it’s so tempting to cut short my pause time - when I’ve been suddenly inspired and the block I felt mentally, has cleared! Hang in there for the stillness!
The Short & The Long Pause
SHORT PAUSES - What happens when we stop for sixty seconds? Breathe and notice the place I am in, Physically? Mentally? Spiritually? This is the pause we often think of when we hear the ideas- Slow down and take a breath. Bringing your breath into a slow and steady conscious rhythm until feeling calming.
LONG PAUSES - Can feel indulgent for a busy person. An afternoon, or a weekend- intentionally set to unplug with no expectations or only those that I choose, brings stillness & contemplation that is low pressure, to be as I am.
What Became Clear???
Lean into the pause. Now I get comfortable with being still. Listening with curiosity to my heart, as layers of old beliefs and patterns rise up to be released - without judgement. I use journaling, prayer and forgiveness to let go of the stifling layers that clung to my heart like choking vines!
I Spent Years Moving So Fast I Couldn't Hear Myself. The answers weren't missing, my attention to what was really happening within me was missing!
Headaches, body aches, horrible periods, stress, worry, fear, anxiety- all signs that I wasn’t in alignment. All signs that I needed to unplug and pay attention and notice my body, mind & spirit. Self Care Was Missing!
When I notice the messages - course correction happens with ease. When I’m so busy that I don’t notice - everything seems out of control all the time. For years I was too busy to hear the suggestions whispered to my heart.
3 ways to pause this month . . .
Are you willing to try?
- 1 Whole day this week to focus on the Short Pauses as you need them! Breathing with intention when you notice you’re holding your breath with stress. (Did you just take a deep breath?) Slowing down to enjoy your moments. Tuning in to what your body, mind and spirit want you to know.
- Schedule 2-4 hours, and do something that’s relaxing, and fun just for you! Block it out on your calendar - make a date with yourself & keep it.
- In the next month, plan a whole day or afternoon, to truly Pause. Plan a date with yourself! Do something you love to do! Listen for the Inner heart whisper that’’s been trying to get your attention.
Guard your time - When others try to replace your scheduled time - simply state you have an important appointment, and can meet another time.
When you put yourself above the busy stuff in life that creeps in, you’ll grow in your personal respect and opinion of yourself. And the pause will give you glimpses of your true voice - the one that is often ‘Shushed’ when we’re too busy to notice.
Self-Care Practice means taking time to pause and tune in. This helps me to be authentic, and decide what is best for me going forward. By tuning into what my body, mind & spirit are telling me it needs, I can make shifts to bring about improvements.
Journaling Question:
What am I running away from, by avoiding time to pause?
Pause Before Standing!
Gina