The Power of a Pause

It's really easy to get yourself stuck in a rut, especially when major changes occur in life and that's something I came to realise around the summer of last year. I took a new job and in the 3 months I was training for that job, it sucked everything out of me. To the point that I started to suffer from anxiety. I eventually quit that job, but found that mentally, I just felt STUCK! I couldn't get back to the "me" that I had spent over 2 years working so hard to heal.

I felt like life had hit me over the headself-carehadn't and everything came to a screeching halt. I experienced a lot of disappointment in myself and in everything around me. When something major happens, life becomes very "real." But, the reality is that it was a very mixed year. I experienced joyful moments at a time when I experienced anxiety and disappointment.

Looking back on that time, I also realised that I hadnt stopped to allow time to Pause. Sometimes that pause consists of moments that allow us to heal the wounds we have sustained in our journey (however big or small). Taking time to smell the roses, meditate or spend time with those we love! I had stopped all forms of self care!

Brene Brown refers to the lack of pausing in her book The Gifts of Imperfection: Your Guide to a wholehearted Life. "The dig-deep button is a secret level of pushing through when we're exhausted and overwhelmed, and when there's too much to do and too little time for self-care,". It's important to take time to reflect and rejuvenate instead of thinking we need to 'Dig Deep'all the time. Taking a pause doesn't mean we won't get back on track or move forward with our dreams.

So rather than new years resolution, I am refocusing by taking the time to pause, regularly, whether I'm ecstatic, optimistic or feeling sad and wounded. I'm hoping this is going to be a softer year with more joyful moments and less difficult ones.