How a weekly pause can reset your soul

What is a weekly pause you may be wondering? A weekly pause is you time. A day in the week where you take a whole day just for you. A day where you are excluded from everything work orientated or chore related. A day to do nothing other than you related exploration. A day to reflect, to rest, to dream, to follow your own path and to do those things you never get around to because everyone else expects you to drop everything for them.

A pause day is that one day that you will soon look forward to. A day when you are alone with you. A day that is filled with self love. A day when you get to stop, breathe and reconnect with yourself. When was the last time that you actually took time to please you ?

Me time is not a luxury it is a necessity. If we don't look after ourselves how can we really be expected to take care of others? Reflection on where we are in life and where we would like to be, comes at a cost. It is not something that happens all by itself. It is carefully planned and executed. We must take this time to truly think if this is the right path and if not we must take the time to evaluate and re-set the gps of life, there is no right or wrong path to follow, but there is a choice, we only get one bite of this cherry that we call life so choose the juiciest cherry in the bowl not the decayed bitter one .

Do Not Disturb !

Be sure to inform those nearest and dearest that on a particular day next week you will not be available. If it is an emergency they will get to you, but for the most part this is your pause day. Find a way to get used to saying NO. Such a tiny little word but damn, such a powerful one and one that for some of us it is the most difficult word in the dictionary to use.

Perhaps we need to change our mindset and welcome the art of NO, make no our best friend, our protector, use it with pride and acknowledge that it is ok to say no sometimes.

Me time should be a rule, in fact it should be a deal breaker in the contract of life. A contract that we have with ourselves. We are so quick to tie ourselves down to terms and conditions on contracts with others, our partners, our boss' even our children, but what about ourselves?

We break commitments to ourselves all the time. It is time we put ourselves first, time to cherish who I am and time to settle for nothing less than the love I know that I deserve.

So often we feel a sense of guilt, or even shame when we dare to put ourselves first. The lingering feeling of self loathing just because we didn't put everyone else before ourselves. Where did we learn this behaviour?

We should change this thought process and accept that we are just as important as everyone else in our lives. We are no less or no more important than them, but when was the last time you were put first without prompting them? When was the last time you had a just because gift?

You can tell me that you are not materialistic or that such endeavours are not high on your list of priorities, which I totally understand but I am pretty sure if your child comes home and gives you a daisy plucked from your garden and gives it to you out of the love in their heart that you will be melted.

The little things in life mean so much more than the grand gestures, if only we could realise this so much sooner in life.

A day of pause will not happen purely because you wish it would. It has to be planned and more than that it has to be scheduled. Our lives are so busy and life seems to be getting faster and faster. For me I want a pause day simply to slow my life down.

This is not a wasted day or a day of no productivity, this is a me day. A day to forget all my other roles, a day where everything else can be put on hold because I am worth time for me. A day where I become me again.

I love me and I am dedicating one day to me, where I do what I want without distraction and without chaos.

I have never done this before and this will be more than a challenge to successfully carve a whole day just for me. I most likely will not be popular and it might take some getting used to for those around me, so perhaps it will be a challenge for them too.

I invite you to take the challenge with me. Let's give our souls some well deserved peace. A pause day once a week for the next month. Six days of your week are dedicated to others, don't you deserve just one day for you?

Let me know in the comments below if you too are having a pause day.

xx Lei

PAUSE - BREATHE- PRAY