Think of a movie scene with a great pause: two people make significant eye contact sending flirtatious, passionate glances across the pause. The dramatic pause, in music or theater, creates tension and engages the audience with anticipation.
Pausing to reflect gathers wisdom
Pausing to observe celebrates beauty. A well-placed pause in weightlifting builds strength. Long pauses in yin yoga increase flexibility and circulation.
Pausing is not the same as hesitating. Pausing invites calm,
reassured choice, where hesitation invites conflict, misdirected
effort and a lack of confidence and clarity.– BillPlakeMusic.org
Sometimes, in our go-go-go world, we overlook the benefit of pausing. Ideally, we would rest as much as we take action – 50/50. Sometimes in my life, though, I tend toward 75 action to 25 rest. What\’s your action/rest ratio?
When I need a brief rest and wellbeing check-in, I pause to recall a hawk soaring over a silent, Mexican canyon. Stepping away from my friends along a quiet canyon trail, I fixated on the hawk as a respite from our noisy camping trip. The memory triggers a parasympathetic nervous system rest and digest response for me. Do you have a similar peaceful memory to draw on when you need to pause?
When my babies were nurslings, I snuggled them in my rocking chair every few hours for my own much-needed pauses. When my kids were little, I would lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes of stillness, although that strategy backfired when a kid pounded on the bathroom door.
Now, I have a vibrant morning practice that reconnects me to my inner wellbeing and nourishes my body, emotions, mind, and spirit. I get up earlier than the others in my household to revel in stillness. Usually, I get at least 30-60 minutes of practice although occasionally ten minutes is all I’ve got for that morning.
I start with a moving practice of yoga stretches, body-soul movement, and weightlifting. Then, I sit and tune inward for 30 minutes. Typically, before ending my practice time, I journal insights and reflections.
Not everyone is a morning person
If a 30-to-60-minute morning routine doesn’t work for your schedule, I encourage you to start with ten minutes as a great foundation for starting the day. Or find another time during the day to reconnect to your inner wellbeing.
Move your body. Be still and listen. Reflect on the day ahead.
Create sacred space for yourself every day.
Sprinkled throughout the day, can you find moments to pause, find your rhythm, and tune inward to refill your cup from the inside?
Can you practice the art of pausing this month?
- notice your in-breath and out-breath
- notice your heart rhythm
- find beauty in the ordinary
- pay attention to reflections of light
- be still and observe your thoughts passing like clouds
Pausing to reconnect inward to your natural wellbeing builds your resilience during these challenging times. I call that practicing The Art of Jazz Living:
- Find your rhythm
- Reconnect inward
- Listen for the groove
- Share your voice
- Step back and collaborate
If you would like to strengthen your inner resilience while connecting to a supportive community, you’re invited to join our Jazz Living online community. The next six-week cohort begins in April. Look for the details on my WU profile page.
Here’s a guided meditation to help you reconnect with your grounded center of wellbeing within.
Best wishes on celebrating your pauses this month!
Connect with Leah on The Wellness Universe.
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Leah Skurdal guides people to up-level their stress resilience to improve relationships. Leah shares intuitive insights in private Energy Healing to address the roots of disharmony. As an inspirational speaker and published author, Leah offers lively classes, experiential workshops, and keynotes.
