The Need To Pause

Take A Few Moments To Come Back To Yourself

Published in Guided Synergy Summer 2017

Now that winter is behind us and we are out of hibernation, it’s time to get outside and enjoy all the activities and great company that summer promises. Yet with so much happening, we can easily get swept up and lose our sense of connection to ourselves and our inner calmness. That’s because our aura, or electromagnetic field, is always interacting with everything around us.

Think of the filter on a water jug. What happens when you fill it too quickly? It overflows, of course. But if you give the filter a moment to do its job, you are soon able to add more water to continue the flow. Our electromagnetic field is similar. In order to naturally do its job and integrate the constant flow of incoming information, it sometimes needs a moment of pause. When we don’t allow ourselves that time, it can feel like we’re taking on more and more, past the point where we feel able to successfully handle it.

This is a challenge I find myself facing time and time again, so I wanted to share some signs that it may be useful to pause, and to describe what that pause can look like.

The first sign is a general sense of unease, of feeling not quite like yourself, mixed in with some irritability. This may seem obvious, but because it happens on such a subtle level, it is the most important sign to look out for. Many of us have come to believe we have to persevere through difficult things or busy times, sometimes leading us to ignore our internal needs. It’s important to stay conscious of unease and irritability because they can create the perfect recipe for interactions that are not coming from a place of authenticity, calmness and love.

The second thing to check is your thoughts, which are strong indicators of your current state of being. Are your thoughts kind towards others and yourself? Is there a constant monologue in your head, and if so, what is its tone? Does it have an edge to it? If you feel pressure building within your mind, check in. You might find yourself having an internal argument with yourself or someone else.

The physical symptoms are the easiest to spot. Does your energy level feel low, or do you feel like you’re riding a roller coaster of highs and lows? Do you feel anxious? Anxiety can be a sign that your nervous system is overloaded. Do you have headaches? There is a wide variety of signs that you need a pause, some obvious and some subtle. As you become more aware and get to know yourself better, deciphering them becomes easier.

Here are some signs that you might need a moment of pause:

• Generally not feeling like yourself

• Irritability

• Difficulty concentrating

• Negative, irrational or judgmental thoughts about yourself or others

• Replaying a conversation or event in your mind

• Low energy level or feeling depleted, regardless of how much or how little activity you’re doing

• Difficulty sleeping, especially because your mind is overactive

• Nervousness or anxiety

• Headaches

• Stomach problems

• 
  

So what to do when you recognize some of these signs in yourself? Take a pause! This may seem impossible in your busy life, but it doesn’t have to mean taking an hour away from your family and friends and forcing yourself to meditate. It can be as simple as bringing your awareness into the center of your being and taking a few deep breaths—and yes, you can do this while washing the dishes!

A really focused intention can have a powerful effect. It’s easy to take a deep breath but still allow your thoughts to run amok, defeating the whole purpose. Focus on bringing all of yourself—the physical, mental and emotional—together with the genuine intention of re-centering yourself as you let go of anything no longer needed in your electromagnetic field. And, of course, operating from a place of gratitude will bring more magic to any focused intention.

I find that the most important aspect is the energy behind the action, not the action itself. Taking five quiet minutes for yourself can bring far more success than forcing yourself to do thirty minutes of meditation or yoga because that’s what you believe should help. For some, pausing can be simply doing a quick check-in with themselves while remaining in the company of others. Other people may require time alone, away from the energy of others, so that it’s easier to orient back into themselves.

When you begin to truly listen to yourself more and ask yourself what you need, it becomes easier to come from that place of inner calmness, leaving you with more energy and joy to share with those you love during this wonderful time of year.