When things begin accelerating wildly out of control, sometimes patience is the only answer. Press pause.
Doing nothing is sometimes required when we hit an impasse or there is no clear way to continue. This deliberate break can help reassess a situation. Tactical pause is a military term that involves intentionally pausing any undertaking to re-evaluate, refocus, and realign a situation. Stopping often allows for more effective and strategic decision-making.
The concept of pausing is also found in Taoism. This principle is crucial in aligning with the natural flow of the universe and achieving harmony. Although pausing is not solely about not doing something, it is also about letting go of attachment to outcomes and results.
When we strategically use a pause, we avoid rushing into decisions or actions without a clear understanding of the situation. Thus, we pause to assess and perform with intention and clarity rather than rushing into action without considering the consequences.
Interestingly, tactical comes from the Greek word taktilke techne, meaning able to arrange.
The ability to arrange invokes a sense of creativity, expanse, and hope.
Aligning with the natural flow of events and letting go of the idea of achieving specific goals can be liberating. How often have we been in a seemingly bad situation, and afterward, realized the outcome was better than imagined?
Pausing doesn’t sound complicated. We are forced daily to wait at a signal or crosswalk, in line at a store, or while our food is being prepared, yet many feel anxious and impatient when we ask ourselves to pause before taking action.
When we allow the idea of the natural placement of things to occur, the art of arrangement becomes clear. As in many arts, there is a cohesive organization of elements to create an outcome.
These elements include:
Patience gives us respite to observe, reflect, and act at the right moment.
Stillness and the ability to let the mind clear allow us to connect with our intuition and the true nature of the situation. It is here that we hear what is or is not needed. Often, meditation is a vehicle for connecting to this path.
Detachment occurs when we simplify our preconceived desire for an outcome.
When we act within the ebb and flow of our actions, harmony and balance occur. Instead of creating anxiety, our actions become effortless because they move within the genuine alignment of nature’s rhythm. Lastly, we will sense a renewal and rejuvenation of our spirit. Our lives are a creation of our thoughts. Sometimes, our minds become so jumbled that we lose the clear vision of what we desire. That signals us it is time to take a pause and breathe.
Every storm runs out of rain.
–Maya Angelou
