In this fast-paced world of ours with its over-whelming pace of activities and barrage of communications, we are often moving so fast, we forget to pause. Yet pausing is essential to our wellbeing and equilibrium.

Vacations are a great example of taking a pause. In the past it was a time to disconnect from work, computers, and daily routine. But now with all the technological advances, we take our work with us. They tell us, we have more freedom. But do we?

I am currently in La Pine, OR, 4 miles out a dirt road surround by pine forest. The only sound is the wind through pine needles. And I am busy struggling to get my iPhone hot spot working so I can make a zoom call.

Recently, I upgraded my cell service and my iPhone but it seems to be a downgrade in terms of its results.

My husband got his cell to create a hot spot and it was fine for 45 minute and then it ran out of data. He put more data time on it and then it didn't work either.

You get the picture!

Time to take a pause! I did.

Later the hotspot worked again.

There are other pauses, I practice — the pauses in a speech so that your listener has time to take in what you are saying. It creates a dramatic effect and causes people to lean in. Speech pausing takes practice. It is worth it.

Another time to pause is when you get triggered. Pausing allows you to switch from reactive, automatic, instinctive mode, to a thoughtful, creative mode. Remember that old adage “count to ten before you respond?” It really works.

The best pauses for me are in the Sufi meditation work. These pauses help with all the other pauses. Sufi meditation teaches you to let go of self-importance or the presumed importance of whatever task you are invested in completing. This is a mind shift that becomes easier the more you practice it.

Most of us have been raised to be uncomfortable with silence -- the long pause. Sufi workshops can teach you the power of the pause. The pause after a chant, in between exercises, after the drumming stops --it's a time to go inward and assess yourself. How do you feel after the deep breathing sequence or fast dancing? The pause allows you to assimilate the exercise at a deeper level and to assess its impact. 

Welcome the pauses in your life. They are essential and you will grow to love them. 

Tomorrow is Friday, June 16th at 8 am PDT, is my next Sufi Moving Meditation class.

Inshalla! This is the Arabic word for God willing. An important reminder that nothing is ever certain.

Give me 5-7 minutes past the hour of 8 am. If I fail to arrive, trust it is the will of spirit and do your own creative movement.

While you are waiting, breathe deep and slow. Or have a conversation with whoever else shows up. Use the pause.

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89999494833?pwd=V2pOS28yYUdXM3hkaW1rVWIvSjBUdz09

Meeting ID: 899 9949 4833

Passcode: SUFI

8 am PDT is early morning on the west coast! Here's a time converter link if you need to check the time in your location.

Come 5 minutes early if this is the first time you are coming. Let me give you a quick orientation and answer your questions.

Please give yourself some extra time between this class and other meetings as you will likely feel very different at the end.

Be brilliant,

Dr. Michelle Peticolas

Life Transformation Coach

Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss

Secrets of Life and Death

https://www.facebook.com/secretsoflifeanddeath.com