🎧 50. “Make Space, Not Time” and Other Insights from the Sacred Pause
Introducing part 1 of a 3-part series on liminal space
Did you watch the eclipse yesterday? I skipped the festivities and worked on an essay instead, which feels like it’s in a really good place. You might not be surprised to learn that I’m a pretty slow essay writer, but after all the drafting and thinking and setting aside and circling back, I’m barreling towards completion.
It’s also worth noting that this particular piece was charged with a lot of emotion, making it almost impossible to write in any linear way. At one point I cut my paragraphs up and spread them out on the floor. I also set aside my draft for months at a time. Yet here we are, nearly polished and ready to submit to journals!
It’s an excellent example of the power of pausing, which is the topic of today’s new podcast episode.
Episode 50 (!!) marks the first of a three-part series on liminal space, that necessary but sometimes baffling and/or difficult time between things. I used to shy away from embracing these fallow periods, but have come to learn how valuable they are. It’s directly because of all the rest, tending, and self-care I’ve prioritized over the past six months that I’ve emerged with energy to forge ahead on all sorts of things I’m excited about, including this podcast.
But in a world driven by doing, pausing can feel lazy, inaccessible, and even scary. Most of us know that rest is important, but often find ourselves caught between what our bodies are telling us and the cultural expectations we’re pushing up against. It’s a lot to navigate, and takes time to soften into.
Tune in to hear wisdom from three writers who have approached this in different ways, plus a handful of practical suggestions for embracing this energy in daily life.
Episode highlights:
3 authors on how pausing has impacted their creativity
Reflections from book burnout, starting a brand new book, and a sabbatical
The attachment between worth and productivity
Practical suggestions for embracing the pause in daily life
Conversation Starters
Are you in the midst of a sacred pause, or have you benefited from one in the past?
What’s the most challenging part of being in liminal space? Share your experience in the comments!
🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. While you’re there, please rate and review the show too! It’ll help other writers find it more easily, and I’d really appreciate it.
Loving this episode, Nicole!
thank you, and yes, exactly, needing rest made me feel so guilty, but once I took it, I realized how valid it was and how much I needed it. It was sacred also in that I told almost no one the details of my "rest journey" (except a couple of key supports) and took a break from social media during that time, to protect myself. I will encourage everyone to do this when needed.