Simple Shifts Forward Podcast
Episode 06: The Power of Pause (S3E6)
Clarity Chat: The Power of Pausing. Pausing isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom. Dana shares a story about car shopping with her family (and why a sandwich break made all the difference!) to show how slowing down creates clarity, better decisions, and stronger relationships.
You’ll learn:
- Why pausing can lead to more aligned decisions
- Simple ways to create tiny pauses in your day
- How Human Design reframed Dana’s approach to decision making
For more encouragement, grab Dana’s free Stuck to Started Reset Kit at www.dana-mitchell.com.
“Pausing isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.”
Full Transcript
I once believed — and was told by a boss I respected — that quick decisions showed strength.
“Be decisive. Don’t hesitate.” But living that way left me out of sorts. I wasn’t making better decisions — just faster, more stressed ones.
Hi, I’m Dana. Let’s talk about why pausing might be the strongest move you can make.
What I Know Now: is Pausing doesn’t make you weak. It gives your emotions space to settle and your clarity of a decision or situation a chance to focus.
What a Pause Looks Like: Pauses can be tiny. You can use a pause in a way that works for you and no one else has to know about it.
- Three deep breaths.
- Silencing notifications.
- A 10-minute break for a nap, prayer, or meditation.
- Not giving an answer right away — even if it’s a question from someone I love.
Human Design + Car Shopping Story: I have a story for you. I love personality tests! My background has been working in Human Resources for over 30 years so I’ve had many opportunities for self-exploration in the form of learning about what makes people tick and most of all, how I tick.
Over the last couple of years, I learned a lot about myself through something called Human Design. If you’ve never heard of it, there are lots of practitioners online.
One major ah for me has been that I’m an “emotional authority.” It means clarity comes after waiting — not in the heat of the moment. That totally makes sense now, why the pressure to make quick decisions made me feel out of sorts, like I wasn’t listening to my own gut instinct.
Recently, this really hit home while car shopping with my husband and daughter. The dealer pressured us with the whole “buy now or lose the deal.” I really detest this sales tactic because my family felt urgency, and I felt a whole lot of stress. I had even had a chat with my family about what we would do if this pressure tactic were to be applied.
Well it started raining.
It got a little chilly (I live in the South and usually we love a good breeze – but not today).
So when the dealer started telling us that this vehicle would move fast and he was sure other people would be coming to test drive it any minute…I pushed right back.
I said, “This momma needs a sandwich.”
And looking at my daughter went on to say…”Right now.”
You can image what my teenager said….” Uuuggghhh No aaahhh. What are you doing? Can’t you wait?”
Well, in fact, No, I could not. I started laughing to myself because I knew…I needed a pause – in a really big way.
So we left, ate a sandwich, talked calmly about the deal, and when we came back — guess what??
Miracles of miracles…the car was still there. After our pause..our decision felt solid, and we did make a purchase with no regrets.
Our question for today…Where could you insert a pause in your own day? Maybe its before hitting “send on an email or text,” during a tough conversation, or even when online shopping?
Benefits of the Pause:
- It’s a Reset for stress.
- Helps us make better decisions.
- Strengthen relationships by having calmer responses.
- And protects your energy from overreaction.
In closing:
I encourage you to look for opportunities to pause. Try one pause sometime today… even a small one. You’ll see it’s not wasted time. It’s that reset that makes you stronger and more self-confident in your decision-making.
Thanks for sharing this space with me — we’ll meet again soon.
💭 Reflection Prompt:
Where could you insert a pause in your own day? Maybe its before hitting “send on an email or text,” during a tough conversation, or even when online shopping?
Your Next Steps
