This sounds like an Oxymoron! How can one pause to live when living is an active phenomenon?
A few months ago, I was driving home with my daughter in the back seat. I stopped and she asked, "why did we stop mummy?" I answered, "we are at a stop sign". Although she went on in her 3-year old wisdom to prescribe the need for a 'Go Sign', not a green light but an actual green sign with the word 'GO' on it, my mind took note of a lesson from our conversation, a reminder of something I had written about prior. The need for conscious pauses.
Most times in life, we are in the 'GO' mode. It is in man's nature to be in haste. We complain about time running out but even we, hardly slow down. I like that at the Toastmasters, speakers are encouraged to use effective pauses while delivering speeches. When was the last time you made a conscious effort to PAUSE?
I mean
A pause to reflect
A pause to feel (the breeze, love)
A pause to celebrate (little and big wins)
A pause to listen
A pause to plan
A Pause to enjoy moments
A pause to savor meals (food-lovers like me)
A pause to connect with your soul
A pause to identify your intention before carrying out an action
A pause to assess your SWOT
A pause to be grateful
An effective pause.
Some of the inhibitors of these pauses include:
- Our fast-paced life, whether from forces within us or from external factors
- Information Overload: we are at an age where information is coming at us from multiple sources and continuously. We hardly finish processing one piece of information before being 'hit' by another.
- Fear of the unknown. A feeling that if you pause, you are wasting time.
- Having no clear purpose or objective to align our thoughts and actions to
So what are the consequences of not taking pauses as we go through life?
- Little or no sense of accomplishment even after investing so much time and energy to achieve a goal
- Lack of genuine connection and intimacy in relationships with friends and families
- Feeling of constant exhaustion and stress from overwhelming situations leading to poor health and susceptibility to diseases
- Poor memory and focus
- General loss of ability to take full advantage of our intuition
- Irrational decisions that often come back to hurt
Sometimes, a pause is a must and is forced on us. From my experiences in life (and I'm curious to know yours), I have come to realize that when we don't consciously observe these pauses, nature forces us to do so through losses, pain, and challenges. Pausing do not equate stopping and doing nothing. Taking pauses should also not be mistaken to suggest being risk-averse. In fact, taking risks is highly encouraged and may be a form of pause. Pausing to live gives you a well balanced, rich and enjoyable life that you will be proud of. It is one of the key ingredients to a fulfilling life. Pause To Live!
(Developing Thoughts, presented 4/15/17)
(c) Bilqees 2017