The Power Of A Pause

By Kim Howie and Nancy Werteen

Turning inward is a powerful and productive tool you can use every day to create the life you want. Research shows you have the ability to control your own sense of peace, happiness, and joy, and it starts with a pause. This intentional, or unintentional, break is essential to understanding who you are, why you are here, and how you can create a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Momosa Publishing LLC
• Release date: Nov 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781950459124

Book preview

STEP ONE: Slow Down and Just Be

Slow down, take a break, pause, breathe, care for yourself, and just BE.

We recognize that a pause can take many different forms. Sometimes a pause is something we choose, such as setting aside time to meditate each morning, practicing mindful breathing during the day, reading a nourishing book, or going to the beach. Other times we have a pause forced upon us such as, a health issue, a life crisis, or a global pandemic.

Making a choice to pause can look very different from being forced to pause, but in the end, we can accomplish the same types of self-reflection no matter what form our temporary stop takes. Both of these scenarios have one common thread: intentional mindfulness. Mindfulness means you are able to completely focus on the current moment in time. You are able to calmly observe and reflect upon your feelings. You can hear your gut or your inner wisdom talking to you. You take time to understand your goals, priorities, and values. You evaluate and commit to important decisions by knowing who you are and who you want to be.

The pause is the seed that leads to the growth of everything else that you need to find this joyous expression in your life. It can be the constant that anchors you in a storm of distractions. Let’s reflect together on where a pause can show up for you, so that you too, can make the most of the downtime.

Chapter 1 ~ Just Stop

Make the Most of the Downtime (Nancy)

I’ve lived in my house for about 22 years now. The house across the street never seems to have occupants longer than two or three years. We’ve had more neighbors in that house than I can count. Some with kids, some without. Some of the folks were lovely, and we were sad to see them go. Others were tumultuous with loud fights and slamming car doors. There have been marriages and divorces and babies born, a lot of history.

But whoever lives there, every spring, a large bundle of bright yellow daffodils grow by the mailbox with their flower faces opening wide and stretching to the sun. They crane their pedal necks to get as high as they can and stand proudly with their beautiful blossoms.

Each time there are new folks in that house, I feel like asking, Did you see the daffodils? They are always there no matter what. They survive the winter cold and snow. They come back every year with the same glory and enthusiasm. They appear and stand proud. They bear witness. They go away. They pause most of the year, but boy when they are unleashed, they know exactly what they’re doing and how to do it. They make the most of the downtime. They rest in the earth and gather what they need to be able to emerge in the