Life has hit ‘pause’. How you use it is entirely in your hands.
Remember the time you wanted to hit ‘pause’ on life? When you wanted to change your routine or work more from home? It would help you achieve that elusive work-life balance, avoid endless commutes, deliver well, and open up more time to pursue your hobby or talk to loved ones. Well, life has hit ‘pause’ now. How you use it is entirely in your hands.
“One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.” – J. Krishnamurti
Humans are reluctant to accept any change—even a good one—and a sudden change in pace and lifestyle has been thrust upon us. Not long ago, we would have laughed if someone had predicted that entire countries would grind to a halt because of an invisible threat to our species. We also fear the unknown: What is going to happen to us? How long is this going to last?
“Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” – Joan Didion
For most, it is hard to accept that life is finite and can change in an instant. It is frustrating to realize that we can’t control what is happening now. We are used to the clamor and endless mental chatter of our daily lives because it serves to satisfy our illusion of control. We rarely attempt to reduce that noise and connect within when we are hurrying through life. Many feel rather disoriented when the volume of that noise reduces significantly. They don’t know how to deal with the silences that creep in during a pause. Like now.
“Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert
Questions might pop up once you accept this pause and allow yourself the space to open up within. How can you use this time to usher in fulfilling growth and change? Do you like where you are in life now? Is this what you aspired for? Are you ‘happening’ the way you wanted to? A ‘happening’ life does not always mean a life on the run. A rewarding life can look very different from society’s definition of success—or what you once defined as success.
Life’s pauses happen for a reason. Every pause offers an opportunity for growth and fulfillment. An opportunity to sit back and reflect on what really matters to you and where you really want to go. What are you going to do with this pause in your life?