Embracing The Pause: My Journey of Reflection, Healing, and Growth
In the whirlwind of entrepreneurship, there comes a moment when the relentless pursuit of success must yield to the call for balance and self-care. For me, that moment arrived as a profound realization of the need to step away from my business and embark on a journey of reflection, healing, and growth.
Two years ago, my corporate job returned to the office after the pandemic, and around the same time, I was searching for a home to purchase. My rent had increased significantly and I felt that was my sign to start moving past my fears and more towards home ownership. In the midst of it all, I found myself looking for a home to buy, normalizing traveling back into the office to deal with a demanding 9-5, trying to run a business, and also trying to grow my spiritual walk with God. I felt pulled in so many different directions.
As I look back on it, maybe my need to pause other areas in my life was for me to make room to draw closer to God. Hmmm, I just know that at that time, felt like it was a strong need for me to step up my spiritual growth and discipline. I found myself praying to break generational curses over my bloodline and something amazing happened. I met my sister for the first time, my grandfather met his 40-year-old granddaughter for the first time, and months later my grandfather reunited with two of his daughters. I still cannot believe what happened since then but I am truly blessed to witness a story of broken connections become restored. God is amazing!
Look! Life was lifing for your girl! Times I would come home and scroll on Instagram mindlessly until it was time to sleep and wake up and go through life again. When it came to my business, projects would drag on longer than they should have. Once clients started to ask for updates, I knew that was a sign something needed to give. I decided to take a chunk of my mental space and free it up by stepping away from the busyness of my business. Stepping away for me didn’t necessarily mean stopping my business altogether but pausing on the way I was originally going about things. So I decided to pause posting on social media and became very intentional about the clients I accepted to work with. I did not pressure myself to take on every client that reached out to me, and to be honest, it felt rather freeing. I no longer felt pressured and deep down I knew I had fallen out of love with my business, so the pause was needed for me to find my spark again.
Rest is something. Have you ever been trying to jog, and you’re like, “let me just sit down for 30 seconds” and in those 30 seconds you feel a second wind to keep jogging a little longer?
That’s what my pause did for me. During my moment of embracing a pause, I immersed myself in the beauty of life's simple moments. I prioritized my well-being and nurtured my mind, body, and soul with care and intention. I allowed myself the space to heal from past wounds and to grow, both personally and spiritually. As I journeyed through this period of reflection and renewal, I discovered three invaluable lessons:
Life is about more than just business success; it's about finding harmony and fulfillment in all aspects of existence. By stepping away from the constant grind, I was able to reconnect with what truly matters – relationships, personal growth, and inner peace.
Healing is a journey, not a destination. Taking the time to prioritize my well-being allowed me to confront and address the challenges and traumas that were holding me back. Through, self-reflection, and self-care practices, I embarked on a journey of healing and transformation that continues to shape me today.
Growth often requires stepping outside of our comfort zones. By temporarily stepping away from my business, I challenged myself to embrace vulnerability and uncertainty. And in doing so, I discovered new passions, expanded my skill set, and gained a deeper understanding of myself and my purpose.
I must say, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to prioritize my personal and spiritual growth. In essence, just taking that time to pause helped me, to rediscover my passions, and to realign with my purpose, and from now on I know it’s ok to give myself permission to pause, whether that be a pause from the group chat, a pause from the business, a pause from work, whatever it is, if I’m feeling any type of strain in my mind, body or soul, I will call a PAUSE.
Life is something, when was the last time you took a pause? I challenge you to take a moment and close your eyes and reflect on your past day, past week, past month, how have you been feeling? Is there anything that’s pulling from you more than pouring into you? And if so, maybe it’s time to consider a pause. Start by giving yourself permission to hit that pause button, it’s ok, the world will not end.
BRAND STRATEGIST + SQUARESPACE WEB DESIGNER
Here I share brand strategy, Squarespace web design tips, and resources to grow a successful online business.
