Pause

By Liz Williams

We are so often drawn by the busy mind to list all of the things we need to do to take care of ourselves – sleep more, eat well, stay hydrated, exercise, get a massage, take deeper breaths, relax…the list goes on and on. While I am a firm believer in all of these things, I also find value in stillness.

I’d like to introduce you to what I call the pause. It’s a practice I return to again and again when I get caught up in my busy mind. It’s fairly simple, and can be done anywhere at any time. And it can take as little as 15 seconds to complete. It goes like this:

Wherever you are – stop what you are doing. If it is appropriate, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Let the chaos of your day fade into the background – even if only for a few seconds. Chances are, when you open your eyes you will have a bit more clarity about what actually needs to happen next.