invitation to pause

This is a gentle reminder that you get to pause.

You get to slow down.

You get to intentionally pace yourself in the fullness.

Especially as we’re moving into this holiday season, pauses become more sacred and coveted in my world.

How can we infuse these moments into the schedules and structures that already exist?

When Allister was in a car seat, the walk around the car, after buckling him in, until I got myself to the driver’s side, was the most precious pause of my day.

The glorious 30 - 60 seconds, as a moment to reset (even if he was screaming from the inside of the car ).

A pause to take a conscious breath, a moment that was completely mine, to feel my feet, look up at the sky, sense the expansiveness of the Earth—all of it nourishing my nervous system.

Now I find these moments:

• Before I begin anything, like starting the dishes, folding laundry, or getting on a zoom call.

• Feeling my feet when I walk through any doorway

• The walk to the bathroom as a slow and intentional experience

• Taking an extra moment before I get out of bed to feel my body supported, connected and present

• Pausing on the deck for a breath before we head out on an errand

• Intentionally walking slowly as we move through the grocery store

When things are full it can feel challenging to make extra space and take care of ourselves.

In the past, I would be really resistant to and avoidant of slowing down if I didn’t have a full hour or a large chunk of time block off for myself.

I felt like taking minutes didn’t do anything for me, so I might as well keep plowing through.

However, the truth of it is (and I learned this over many years of practice) that small moments stack up to make big changes in my system.

When I prioritize taking conscious pauses, I have a real shift in my nervous system:

• I’m more connected to my emotions

• I am more likely to know what I what and need

• I sleep better (because I’m consistently settling my nervous system throughout the day)

• I’m not as irritable with my kids

• I’m more likely to ask for help

• I’m less reactive and have more agency in my choices

• I’m less likely to shift into disassociation and checkout mode

So today, this is an invitation to get creative and weave these pauses in!

How can you orient to slowness in the fullness?

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And, if you find you are desiring some support to create these kinds of moments and spaces for yourself, I invite you to reach out for a conversation to see if working together would be a good fit.

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I’m currently offering 30% off of all of my online somatic and energetic offerings, to help your Body and Being expand your capacity to hold all the threads with more ease.

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Sometimes we need a little support and I am here when you are ready