I read this post and instantly knew I had to share it with you.
I have many of these urges: eating junk, jumping online, biting my nails ~
so I’m going to think of these words as I move forward…
The Pause Upon Which All Else Relies
Post written by Leo Babauta.
There is one little habit I’ve learned that has changed everything else in my life.
The pause.
When we fail, it’s because we act on urges without thinking, without realizing it. We have the urge to eat junk, and we do it. We have the urge to check email instead of writing a chapter of our book, and so we open our inbox. We have an urge to smoke, to drink, to do drugs, to chew our nails, to play a Facebook game, to procrastinate, to skip a workout, to eat more fries, to criticize, to act in jealousy or anger, to be rude … and we act on that urge.
What if instead we learned to pause after each urge? What if we stopped, looked at that urge, paid close attention to what it feels like inside our bodies, but didn’t act?
The urge would no longer control us. We would be able to make conscious choices that might be healthier for us, help us be happier.
If we can pause, we create space. Space to breathe, to think, to be without acting.
The pause is the answer to so many of our problems. Such a small thing, and so powerful.
To develop the pause, notice your next urge. Is it an urge to go check something online? Or eat something you know isn’t healthy for you? Pay attention to the urge, learn as much as you can about it. If you act on it after the pause, that’s OK. Just notice it, and pause, and pay attention.
Do it again for the next urge, and the next. You will get good at it with practice, and you’ll have lots of opportunities to practice.
The urges won’t go away, but your ability to pause will get stronger. And when you have the pause, you have everything.
~~~~~~~
thanks Leo.
It’s Free Cards Friday! Add your comment to THIS blog post throughout the weekend and be in the running to win some cards ~ I’ll choose the winner on Monday.
Love & Sincerely, Katie
Above Image: This is not related to Leo’s post, but this painting is called PAUSE! This Original Painting is available, click the image to find it in the online shop.
Pause, by Katie m. Berggren, Acrylic on Cradled Board with 2″ Natural Birch Sides, 24×30, $580
Current Location: Mama Baby Chiropractic, Portland OR
Message from the Artist: One evening I found myself listening outside my son’s door, pausing from an evening of chores and personal tasks. This image came to me and I was forced (happily so) to put my chores aside and head to the studio to begin sketching! Originally, the left hand was placed on her belly, as mine was as in real life (I believe she was subconsciously touching her stomach, thinking of her child) – however, after struggling to allow her hand to stay on her belly without her looking pregnant, I decided to give her left hand some more purpose. Her left hand has now become a place for laundry to hang on its way to the laundry room. How true to life! This painting takes another step toward recreating moments of everyday life. A painting on deep-cradled gessobord with unstained 2″ Oak edges.