Embracing the Purposeful Pause: Unexpected Lessons in Resilience

Imagine a flock of sheep... contentedly grazing in a lush pasture. After a hearty meal, they don’t rush off to the next field. Instead, they take time to ruminate, to digest what they’ve taken in. ?This is wisdom.

It may look as if the sheep are “just” resting, when, in fact, their bodies are actively working. Without this quiet time to ruminate, nourishment from the recently ingested grass will not be available -- and the sheeps’ health will be compromised.

When the sun blazes high in the sky, sheep seek shelter in the shade, cooling down and conserving energy. Not allowing their well-being to be at risk from overheating.

Again, wisdom at work.

Now, let's translate this example to busy humans.

We often forget that we need these same things:

?? We need time to digest and integrate all the information and experiences we've absorbed.

Did you know we take in 40-50 million bits of information per second? That’s a lot for your nervous system and brain to digest.

??? We need space to cool down when life heats up and demands more of us.

The speed and volume of change today can overamp our nervous systems, leading to overwhelm and reduced capacity for patience, tolerance and compassion – for ourselves and each other.

In a world where Go-Do-Push is the dominant narrative for success, we forget the importance of having time to process, internalize, and reflect.

The biology we inhabit needs time to metabolize what we’re experiencing.

This is an important aspect of resilience that often gets overlooked in our eagerness to jump into whatever’s next.

It's like sheep jumping the fence to reach fresh pasture before they've finished mowing the one they're in or digested their last meal.

What happens then? Overload. Our nervous systems rev up…until our bodies say, “Enough!”

Then…we move from Go-Do-Push to Go-Push-Crash.

The alternative? Find the support and structure that helps you explore:

?How do you process and assimilate all that life throws at you?

?How do you free up mental and emotional room for new experiences?

?How do you help your biology help you create, achieve -- and thrive?

You need space (a.k.a. capacity) to identify and transition into your "what's next."

The bottom line is this:

Sometimes, when it seems like you're just sitting still, doing nothing... those might be some of your most productive moments…times when you’re working really hard in ways that don’t show externally. Ways that are critically needed for growing into your “what’s next.”

?And that internal processing? Can take a lot of energy.

Cultures that don’t recognize and support this can erode resilience. I’ve heard this cultural imprint show up in clients who say they don’t have time to hit pause, to meditate, to sit still and reflect, even…to meet with their coach.

Let’s change the narrative:

From I don’t have time… to I make this a priority.

From I can’t risk appearing unproductive …to I choose to model this crucial form of “productivity.”

Taking time to be still, to tune into yourself and reflect isn't just okay—it's more important than ever in a world of rapid, ongoing change. We have a lot to digest right now.

So next time you find yourself rushing to move forward, remember the sheep. Take a moment to digest, to ruminate, to find your shade.

Take time for the purposeful pause.

It can be unexpectedly productive - and - your next chapter will thank you for it.

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Ready to explore how you pause purposefully in order to move forward? You'll want to know about the Next Chapter Resilience Lab, now open for registration. The next cohort begins in early July. Learn more or register here.

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