Written by: Gail Kauranen Jones, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As we begin to leave the cocoons so many of us have been thrust into these past two years, let us not forget the lessons learned from going inward. Those lessons helped us regroup, re-prioritize and get clear of how we want to “be” in the world. I stress “be” because, before the pandemic, many of us spent way too much time doing.
The Great Resignation, also referred to as “The Big Quit,” is showing that many do not want to live on the hamster wheel of “feeling on” all the time, producing for external results, without acquiring an internal sense of satisfaction. A record number of employees suddenly left jobs last year. According to the government's jobs report released in January 2022, well over 20 million people quit their jobs in the second half of 2021. To learn more about the Great Resignation, check out this clip from 60 minutes on CBS News. In moving forward—whether you stay in your job or choose to leave—taking time to pause will help keep you grounded and close to discovering “what makes your heart sing,” which is one of the explorations many job quitters are undertaking. Taking that gift of pausing, as we continue to expand our presence in the world coming out of isolation, is a life choice that must be repeatedly made. Highly sensitive people, like empaths, especially benefit from taking time to pause to give their nervous systems time to recalibrate. Pausing for all of us is an exquisite act of self-care, bringing a greater sense of stability and peace, and the opportunity to make wiser choices through reflection. Many people resist taking time to pause for these reasons:
Empty space tends to create fear—of what we might have to deal with that we have ignored by staying busy. When we are occupied, we can more easily avoid confronting painful questions or issues lying beneath the surface.
Many mistakenly believe their value comes from what they do, versus who they are. We are born worthy, and nothing externally can give us that strong sense of self; it must come from within.
Societal values have placed much focus on getting “more,” with people caught on a treadmill thinking material acquisitions will help them feel they are enough. That treadmill rarely leads to the satisfaction of enough, for there is always more to buy that appears bigger and better. Instead, the treadmill creates burnout, and a sense of feeling lost, as many in the Great Resignation have articulated.
The pause is the place for the great remake
Know this, the more time you take to pause, the richer your life will become. For in pausing, you get to know your true self, not the person your early life conditioning or society compelled you to be. And, yes, sometimes it can be painful to pause, and discover things about yourself or your life you do not like. Yet, decisions and life choices made in a rush tend to have long-term consequences that are even more painful than sitting with yourself and facing your truths. Moreover, “the pause” is where corrections can be made. There is a de-cluttering of the mind and heart that happens in what I call this precious “space for grace” before the new arrives. In working with clients, I use the pause to help them make corrections by releasing the limiting beliefs that hold them back. Then, using my wordsmith and neuroscience skills, I create empowering new customized statements that rewire the brain for a new life story. This process, which cannot be rushed, involves a letting go, integration, then a re-creation period. And, as with grief, the journey is not always straightforward. New layers of discovery may continually pop up, which can offer an exciting redirection to a life beyond what you imagined—or have been conditioned to believe—you deserve.
Pacing oneself
One has to be patient and brave to slow down, stay in the unknown, and create alone time for just “being,” not doing. I recommend whether you are making a decision or not, that you spend at least 20 minutes of alone time in silence daily. If you are in a major life transition, I would encourage you to increase the time by adding meditation and journaling. You are worthy of that alone time to connect with your soul and your essence. Your inner wisdom is a far greater guide than outside influences.
To fully embrace the power of the pause, surrender by letting go of the steering wheel, and sit in that sometimes-uncomfortable place of not knowing what is next. Not knowing is actually healthier than pushing forward repeating what you have done in the past.
Many mistakenly see this time of “doing nothing” as some sort of punishment while they wait for answers to come. In truth, pausing can enhance our lives, our relationships, and our sense of self.
It is by making time for free space and stillness, patiently listening for guidance, that re-creation and a new life can be found. You are also learning to build a trust muscle, allowing your life to unfold beautifully, on your behalf, without you micro-managing it.
Plus, the more you accept, versus resist, quiet time alone to pause, the more you open to a peaceful, loving grace. That grace will guide you forth. Befriend it.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit my website for more information. Check out my free, guided meditation on worthiness on the home page. I also offer a complimentary, 30-minute consult, to explore guiding you forward on your path.
Gail Kauranen Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gail Kauranen Jones (known as “Coach Gail Jones”) is an intuitive coach, gifted wordsmith and inspiring teacher who has been leading clients through transformation for more than twenty years.
She is the author of two books, "Cancer as a Love Story: Developing the Mindset for Living", and "To Hell and Back…Healing Your Way through Transition."
Passionate to get to the root causes of blocks that hold clients back and then help them create empowering new beliefs to move forward, Gail delved deep after going through her own journey healing from breast cancer. She learned some profound ways to optimize health and well-being—including claiming one’s worthiness to live and thrive.
Gail trained with world-renowned neuroscientists in guiding clients to rewire the brain for new levels of personal and professional success.
She has appeared as a guest “worthiness coach” nationally in the US on CBS TV’s Emmy award-winning talk show The Doctors and on Sirius XM Radio.
She also was hired to train several hundred HeartMath coaches globally on her worthiness platform, with her signature presentation, “The journey to the heart of worthiness.”
She is the host of her own podcast, “Claim Your Worthiness: Intimate Conversations with Gail Jones,” which features national thought leaders and handpicked experts and others who have transformed their lives to serve.
