tiny bets no. 10 ~ there’s beauty in the pause ⏸️
consider this your permission slip to take a breather.
Taking breaks is difficult for me and probably for you, too.
I’m all for moving fast and forward. Finding creative ways to get things out into the world. Taking action. That’s my PermissionLESS side and very much how my brain works, occasionally to its detriment.
But sometimes (namely, the last year) I’ve felt the deep urge — need — to pause. Even on things I love, have fun creating, and have been seeing momentum with.
Pausing sometimes for a few days. A week. Months. Whatever feels right.
And it sounds crazy to do that if nothing is wrong, right?
I look at my work now vs then, and while it’s evolved in some awesome ways and I’m really proud of my progress and the impact I hear it having on others, it’s lost some of what I felt was unique about it to begin with — even if it’s just my mind’s inner dialogue being catty with me.
Are you noticing that in your own work? Feeling like it’s routine? Lost its edge? Smushing into what everything else is creating? A little too not you?
Sometimes that happens when you get in the habit of “doing” without taking a break because you don’t want to feel like a failure or have others forget about your work.
[A lot of people won’t admit that but I’m 99.99997% sure most feel this and work through it. Clearly a very scientific conclusion — lol]
But taking breaks (even micro ones) is hard. When we want or need a pause it can immediately evoke a guilty feeling we’re probably all familiar with right?
“I’m not doing enough.”
[you probably are]
“I’ll lose momentum.”
[momentum ebbs and flows]
“People will forget about my work.”
[that’s on them — those who enjoy it will be glad you’re taking care of yourself]
“They’ll think I can’t commit.”
[they’re probably too busy with their own lives to think that. And if they do… that’s very presumptuous of them.]
It’s all mind taffy. Let it go.
If a pause is what you need… then take it.
Guilt free.
Let yourself off the hook for a few.
Do you, boo.
Consider this your permission slip if you need one.
Pausing can give you…
a fresh perspective.
creative inspiration.
time to unlearn what’s not serving your practice or work anymore.
a new space to play (tiny bets was actually created while pausing on/reworking something else. I wanted a space to openly ponder with no expectations. And yah girl can’t *not* create, so… hi.)
The chance to meet people doing different things and learn new perspectives.
An opportunity to be bored, daydream and let your mind create new connections between thoughts and things to bring back into your work.
Finding longevity as a creative or entrepreneur means playing the game for the long haul and taking breaks when needed. So take the pause. Get a mental refresh.
Your brain is 100% responsible for your reality and life, love on it and take care of it.
Cheers to tiny bets,
Sel
tiny bets are all the small things you do that stack up over time to craft a reality you love. These memos are a mix of woo, science, philosophy, and thought experiments to help you feel inspired to show up for yourself and your work daily.
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