Oh, hi friends!
Deliberate pauses…
Sometimes we're in a good groove — in work, in life, in fitness, in creativity — and the smallest shift happens.
The groove is disrupted, and you "fall off."
I saw this happen lately with a few things (running! newsletter consistency! other side projects — the podcast! launch the plane!).
But instead of being concerned by these disruptions, I'm trying to notice all the good that has replaced them.
Instead of labeling something as "that thing I used to do," you can embrace what's actually happened: a deliberate pause.
A deliberate pause is saying "not now, but later."
A deliberate pause is admitting something isn't a priority at this moment (even if it has been a priority at another moment).
A deliberate pause gives you peace.
If you have one too many things going on right now, ask whether you can institute a deliberate pause.
I'm taking the rest of the month [or season or year] off from X.
Recently, I've even deliberately paused thinking about certain ideas, for my business or creative future.
This isn't something I can invest energy in now, so I'll revisit again in…June.
There is something freeing about taking control. Declaring.
This isn't easy, of course.
"But can't I just work harder and try to do it all?"
Maybe. Maybe!
But do you want to do it all?
Or do you want to do it well?
What can you deliberately pause this week, this month?
What do you need to stop in order to start something new?
Yes this!! Deliberately pausing on thinking about something is so freeing and a way to stay present for us planners who need to outline everything haha. Like “oh I can’t do anything about this til XX anyway, so I’ll set a to do reminder for when I can start thinking about it and then purge it from my brain in the meantime to make space for what’s in front of me now.”
The perfect message to start my week. Thank you!!!