Lately, I notice my calendar feels like it belongs to everyone else. It’s full of demands, meetings, and responsibilities, with only a sprinkle of the things I truly want to do. When I try calendar blocking, it instantly triggers me. The structure feels like control, and part of me longs to be free. Yet at the same time, I know I need some rhythm to thrive.
I catch myself pushing through to get things done, no matter how I feel. The truth is, I haven’t spent much time exploring my natural rhythm. That feels new and unfamiliar, but I know it’s where the answer lies.
Weekends are when I rush most. It’s my free time, so I fill it with writing newsletters, drafting blogs, and working on social media. I love the creativity, but sometimes it feels like a lot of work for little return. I’m starting to wonder: what if I flipped it upside down? What if I treated my creative time as play instead of pressure? That thought opens up something new inside me.
Listening to the Signs
Before I could hear that whisper to pause, my body and emotions were already sending signals—tiredness, lack of excitement, and a sense that something wasn’t flowing. These were clues asking me to step back, not push harder.
It wasn’t easy. Pausing can feel uncomfortable, especially when we’re used to measuring worth by how much we get done. But this pause wasn’t about quitting. It was about honoring myself enough to stop running on empty.
The Practice of Looking Deeper
During this time, I began exploring my emotions from multiple angles:
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How do I feel in my body right now?
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What thoughts are connected to that feeling?
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What’s the opposite perspective?
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What might this feeling be trying to show me?
As I did this, I began to understand that my exhaustion was not failure—it was feedback. My body and emotions were simply asking for care, for attention, for alignment. The deeper I listened, the clearer I became about who I am and what truly matters to me.
The Lesson in the Pause
What emerged from this space was self-honor. It’s not about meeting anyone else’s expectations—it’s about meeting myself with compassion and truth. In stillness, I remembered that doing less doesn’t mean being less. Sometimes, slowing down is the most productive thing we can do because it opens space for clarity, renewal, and new possibilities to take root.
“In the stillness of nature, we find the power to realign and rise.”
Your Turn to Pause
Take one mindful pause this week. Just stop for a moment, breathe, and ask yourself:
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What am I feeling right now?
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Where do I feel it in my body?
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What might this feeling be trying to tell me?
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What would honoring myself look like in this moment?
You might be surprised at what reveals itself when you give yourself space to listen.