The Power of the Pause

"What is it I really need right now?" How often do you stop and check in with this question... and how often do you just hurtle straight into the day, head down, blinkers on and no looking up?

Honestly..?

"What is it I really need right now?"

One of my absolute favourite questions of all time.

Game changing. Life saving. Probably literally.

Why?

Because I’m a natural born hurtler - and it helps me stay in control and steer clear of burnout.

I’ve been there, I know the consequences for my health and relationships - and I do NOT want to go back.

On the other hand - I do NOT like to slow down. It’s how I’m wired. Natural born doer, adventurer, seeker of more interesting things.

Probably ADHD.

Certainly A Driven Human Doing.

And don’t get me wrong - I do love slowness. Staring at a sunset. Lingering over a coffee with a book. Taking time to play the piano… swimming in the sea. (Not both at once, obviously. That would be ridiculous). Engaging with my kids and their simple pleasures.

But my busy brain is always rushing from one exciting thing to the next - newness, excitement, challenge… it’s what’s fueled my passion for my business (aside from being in love with what I do!) and has kept me adapting, experimenting and innovating all these years.

It’s one of the essential ingredients for entrepreneurship and leadership.

But it’s all too easy for me to forget to LIVE and EXPERIENCE the moment, too. I don’t think I’m alone in that affliction!

In moments of downtime, my brain is busy coming up with the next big thing and dropping them into my conscious awareness (I get the best lightbulb moments when I’m hanging up washing or cooking dinner!).

When I’m on the verge of getting hooked on the heady cocktail of dopamine and adrenaline that comes with a NEW BIG THING (like my recent rebrand into The Better Brain Company ), it will start reminding me of all the things I have to do - and making them seem like they’re ALL super-urgent and must be done THIS SECOND.

They really aren’t - it’s just my emotional brain sabotaging my rational thought processes - and I now recognise this as a sign that my nervous system has gone out of whack and it’s time to put on the brakes before I spiral into exhaustion and overwhelm.

Yep, I’ve had to give myself a talking to and take extra care not to get sucked into a tailspin of unnecessary stress this week!

Which is why I’ve consciously built in plenty of slow time and activities that demand presence - like morning yoga and the odd swim.

And why I keep coming back to that question.

"What is it I really need right now?"

?? Is it to get the million and one things my brain thinks I have to do, this minute, done?

No.

Because in reality, very few of them actually have to be done right now - or even this week. And ticking them off the list will feel good for… oh, 5 seconds, before the next imaginary ‘urgent and pressing’ thing demands my attention. And so it will continue… all day and all week, if I let it.

That isn’t flow, it’s frantic, fight/flight driven panic mode - and I’m not here for it.

?? Is it to give myself a hard time for not being further ahead - and spend hours aimlessly scrolling and getting sucked into the vortex of doom that is social media/comparisonitis?

Yeah, probably not helpful either. My time, energy and headspace is better spent on MY stuff, not everyone else’s.

?? Is it, just maybe, to put my mind and body first so I can continue to function at the level that this thing is going to demand and stay in it for the long game?

Why, yes - I do believe it might be that.

Maybe, for you, it’s something else.

Maybe it’s having a conversation with someone that will make all the difference.

Maybe it’s getting some moral support.

Maybe it’s trying that new thing you’ve been promising yourself for ages!

Maybe it’s hitting the gym.

Maybe it’s NOT hitting the gym, because you just need to just rest.

Maybe it’s allowing yourself to take it easy for an hour or two.

Maybe…

… well, I’ll let you let me know what it is.

But I know for sure that if you ask that question, and give yourself a few moments of stillness just to let it really permeate - you’ll be giving yourself exactly what you need right now.

And that’s to come back to you. The power of the pause is yours... ... use it wisely ??

By the way, this question comes to you courtesy of The Living Journal?? - my easy peasy way to get 10 minutes of mindset & mental wellbeing in, every day. Each day has a theme.

• Mondays are a dose of focus, flow and motivation
• Wednesday is all about worth & worthiness
• Thursdays will get you thinking a bit deeper than you usually go
• Fridays are about finding the feel good factor... ... and, well, if you're interested to know what else we cover, come over and check it out !