The Power of Pause

The idea of pausing isn’t about escaping our experiences but instead taking the time to be fully present in our everyday life. Besides helping take our awareness back to the present moment, pausing gives us greater presence of mind as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps relax the body and calm the mind enabling us to have a focused response to our experiences rather than an uncontrolled reaction.

Self-Regulating Pause

‘We have within us the means of finding peace within regardless of the chaos going on in the world around us.’

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Pausing is a temporary stop in action or speech, and it’s in the stillness of the pause that our body naturally self-regulates. How we feel within ourselves will very much determine how we interpret the world around us. While we can’t always control our external environment, we can control our inner environment. We can bypass the ego and the constant mental chatter by taking our awareness deep within; doing so helps us self-regulate and shift our perspective to a more positive outlook on life; this takes practice. The more we practice, the easier this will become and the more natural it will feel to do. And in no time, it will become second nature to us.

When And Where, And Why Should I Pause?

We can pause anytime, anyplace and anywhere. Pausing isn’t just about shifting negative perspectives. It’s also about taking the time to ‘stop and smell the roses’, so to speak. It’s about taking the time to register the good things in life, and doing so helps us build our resilience and put things into greater perspective.

Practice Pausing Throughout The Day

• As you awake in the morning, before you open your eyes, pause for a moment and rest in the stillness of the in-between world that links your inner world to your outer reality. Become aware of the power of light within as your life force energy pulses throughout your body, carrying with it your intention for the day ahead, whatever that may be. Set the intention: I AM the lifeforce energy flowing through my body, pause for another moment, and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.
• Take your awareness to the light within your heart. Imagine your heart opening up like a flower and pause for a moment in this open-hearted space filled with light. Set the intention: I AM open-hearted and centred in light; pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.
• As you get out of bed, place your feet on the ground. Then pause for a moment and become aware of your deep connection with Mother Earth. Set the intention: I AM present in the moment and grounded in the earth; pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.
• Smile at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself how much you love being you. Look into your eyes and tell yourself, ‘I honour the light in you’. Then, pause for a moment as you become aware of how much self-love you have. Set the intention: I love being me. I love my life. Pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.
• Drink some water, then pause for a moment as you become aware of your cells responding and coming alive as they are rehydrated. Set the intention: I AM fully rehydrated; pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.
• Eat something healthy. Then pause for a moment as you experience the antioxidants and nutrients that feed and nourish your entire body. Set the intention: I AM nurtured and nourished; pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness.

Practicing Patience

‘When things begin accelerating wildly out of control, sometimes patience is the only answer. Press pause.’

Douglas Rushkoff

Pause for a moment before you step into the busyness of your day and remember:

• Pause before assuming; this will remind you to ask questions.
• Pause before accusing; this will remind you not to judge or blame.
• Pause before reacting; this will empower you to respond appropriately.
• Pause when you feel you’re about to react harshly, and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.

Pause And Savour The Moment

‘It always pays to dwell slowly on the beautiful things – the more beautiful the more slowly.’

Atticus

When you’re experiencing something nice or wonderful or beautiful, it’s good to pause and absorb the experience in through your senses and cherish the moment. In that moment of awareness, let the light within raise your vibration to its highest level and carry it to the depths of being with your breath, filling every cell with light. Set the intention: I am my highest vibration in light. Pause for another moment and allow your intention room to breathe as it expands and settles in your awareness. Doing so helps to ‘savour the moment’.

At The Closing Of The Day

Pause at the end of the day and give thanks for your experiences. It helps if you release what no longer serves you and focus instead on all that you’ve gained from your day. Then with an open heart and a clean slate, set the intention that you will have a deep and restorative sleep and that you will awake in the morning refreshed and rejuvenated, ready for the new dawn and a fresh new start. Pause for a moment as you become aware of the sleepy, dreamy state of in-between worlds and surrender.