This book was written in 2017, way before Covid-19 but I’ve found it to be a really useful re-read over the last few weeks and months.
One of the things I have found most useful in building my own wellbeing and resilience (and suggest to others) is finding time to take a pause in whatever’s going on. That’s what this book is all about. If you are feeling that you’re running fast just to stand still, then this is definitely worth a read.
If you’re already familiar with some self-help practice, then there won’t be anything new to you in here. But it does give you a framework and a real focus on slowing down, pausing and concentrating on what really matters to you. It provides a structure, packed with exercises, to help you create your own pause. You can either follow the structure from start to finish or, as I do, dip in and out to whichever area is important for you at that time.
There are some things that I’ve taken on as new practices – free flow writing and talking while being listened to (no questions asked at all) as a couple of examples - and things that have been big reminders, like thinking more about natural rhythms in line with the seasons.
Sometimes, it can feel easier just to keep going than to think about pausing and trying something different. However, the reminders throughout the book from the author, Danielle Marchant, explain why pausing matters so much, as she shares her experiences that led to her own pause. It demonstrates how important it really is for every one of us to create a practice of pausing, particularly as we continue to face huge levels of change and uncertainty.
This is a great read, especially if this is your first introduction to these sorts of ideas or exercises, giving you a really practical approach to slowing down.
Every time I read it, it’s a really good reminder that if you don’t create time for your own pause, then life may well do it for you – and you might not enjoy it quite as much.