We live in a world that rarely slows down.
Our phones buzz, our inboxes multiply, our to-do lists stretch into tomorrow… (that can’t just be me, right?!) Even in spiritual spaces, it can feel like there’s always more to do. Keep going. Keep learning.
But what if wisdom isn’t always found in movement? What if it lives in the moment in between?
“Pausing” can feel unfamiliar or even disruptive.
But I’ve been learning, slowly, that it’s not only okay to pause, it’s necessary. I often turn to the wisdom of Indigenous elders and guides, who remind us to slow down and listen. There is a teaching that says, “Don’t just do something, sit there.” It’s a gentle reversal of what we’ve been taught, reminding us that stillness is not the absence of action, but a form of it.
This kind of pause isn’t passive. It’s intentional and deeply rooted in awareness. It creates space for clarity to emerge, and perhaps most importantly, it safeguards our peace.
Nothing is so urgent that it should come at the cost of your inner steadiness. The world can wait while you come home to yourself.
At OneSpirit, we talk often about deep listening. Not just listening to others, but to ourselves. To the voice that only becomes clear when the noise quiets. To the heart, which never hurries. To spirit, which doesn’t work on demand.
Slowing down is not laziness. It’s courage. It’s a way of saying, “I don’t need to have all the answers right now.” It’s breathing space. It’s making room for the unknown.
“Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.” — Gretel Ehrlich (American nature writer, poet, and essayist)
The pause is where clarity gathers. It’s where the roots deepen, even if nothing looks like it’s growing. It’s where the “not yet” slowly becomes “now.” Whether you’re facing a decision, supporting someone else, or simply trying to get through the day, the invitation is the same: pause.
You don’t have to fill it. Or fix it. Or rush it. Let it open. Let it hold you. Let it speak. Because the pause isn’t empty. It’s alive. And something sacred is always listening.
And if you’re someone who needs permission to slow down, consider this it.
From one imperfect person practicing the pause to another, let’s learn to slow down, together.
