Only 10 minutes to more creativity? That sounds doable, right? It is, and it’s as simple as sitting quietly and focusing on your breath.

For the past several years I have been recommending meditation to my private clients. It has been significant to most. 

At our Creative Arts Business Summit, I would lead a guided meditation. For some of my clients, this was a powerful exercise.

Today in our times of stress with the coronavirus, meditation can have a profound effect on us.

I also have my own meditation practice that is part of my morning ritual. I was around meditation for a long time before I started to practice. My sister has taught mindfulness meditation for more than 15 years after many more years of a personal practice, and my husband has also had a long-time practice.

Despite their encouragement, I could not think of myself as someone who meditated. After all, I couldn’t possibly sit still that long. The first time I tried, I stopped and looked at the clock and barely two minutes had passed. And, I could not shake the long-held idea that meditation somehow was for hippies or new-age types.

I somehow got over that.

Read, I stopped self-sabotaging myself.  And, I began a meditation practice. I have found that it has a positive impact on my life. I can see this in my everyday activities and in my own creativity.

Especially in today’s uncertain times, I find it grounding.

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I am getting ready to take some PT or “Pause Time.” While it is intentional that I am spending this week at our home on the Chesapeake Bay, I realize I need to fully honor that Pause Time in my calendar.

I have gone to two conferences this summer. They were different, and each had such positive value for me in my business and life. Yet, I have not really taken the time to pause and reflect on how to go forward with all the information I learned. I have been in a catch-up mode after I returned from each.

I am sure you have been in this space at some point. You have so much on your plate and you are just pushing through the day. Often you find that you are not really getting anywhere. Sure you are checking off the “to do” items and blocking them into the calendar, but are you making any real forward progress?

Part of the problem is that we are keeping our minds so active getting our work done or moving to the next task, that we are not taking truly inspired action. And, I think it is even worse in today’s tech environment. You just have to log onto social media and you get inundated with all kinds of posts.

What does pause time do for you? When you actually create the space, slow down and let go, you are able to see things with a different perspective. You are able to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. This is especially true for seeing those opportunities that are just outside your comfort zone. You often do not even see them, if you don’t take the time to pause.

I think we can use a little bit of pause time in each day — a time for stillness and reflection. Take some time to be still, whether that is in the garden or in a quiet room overlooking the garden. It might even be a formal meditation practice that you have. I suggest doing this in a space that is not your office, so you do not have distractions. Then in that space of quiet, take the time to just be and then reflect on where you are and where you are going.

Join me in Pause Time. Find inspired action.

Here is a quote I like. It reminds me that the stillness and reflection providing answers, or inspired actions.