Pause

“Sometimes it's when we turn off that we become most productive.”I started this book as Hurricane Irma swept through our city in Florida. I connected with the subject matter instantly. Life is full of imperfections and changes, and author Danielle Marchant nails it on the head when she says: "It’s a rarity that the whole of your life is operating perfectly and you are free from either suffering or desire. Nothing is static.” Pause is an apt title for a book that serves to remind us how essential it is to step back and breathe. In an era filled with constant contact, Wi-Fi, deadlines, and social media, we are becoming an exhausted people -- and the current unhealthy levels of stress is unsustainable. When we lost power during the storm, we were forced to go back to basics and live in the moment without the distraction of the wired world. The author points out that “The World Health Organization predicts that work-related stress, burnout, and depression will top the list of the world’s most prevalent diseases by 2020”. How can one evolve in a world where being plugged in to over-achievement is seen as being successful? How does one find balance in the chaos of modernity?Pause provides techniques for stress management. It's a self-help retreat in book form. It is replete with affirmative quotes and tips for a healthier lifestyle that includes knowing when to step back and take a moment. This can take the form of journaling, meditation, breathing, and engaging in creative pursuits. Though there are many books and videos that explore similar ideas, Pause is infused with a certain realism that goes beyond changes in activity. It poignantly delves into concepts about success, happiness, and dreams. It examines “times when life comes crashing down” or “enforced pauses”, including loss, bereavement, illness and other dramatic events. Just because we may want to keep going, that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed. Pause doesn't provide quick fixes, but reminds us to take stock and find the right questions to ask ourselves by listening to our inner voices. Those voices are often rendered silent by external forces we may not even be fully aware of. It’s the kind of book to carry around and read here and there when life starts feeling too crazy.I wasn't expecting much from Pause when I first got it, but Marchant turned me around after the first few pages. Insightful content aside, the graphic designer in me must sing the praises of the book's design. From the tactile cover, the built-in "bookmark" flap, and the tastefully laid out pages and calming graphics, Pause is very well done. Rather than stuff page after page of block text down your throat, it gives you the breathing room to read it at your own pace and enjoy the experience (see photos). You may also want to check out her website and blog: lifebydanielle.com.As I finish restoring my storm-ravaged landscape, I’ve taken pause to feel grateful for the little things, the quiet moments. Hopefully with this life “enforced pause", and the book Pause by my side, I can continue to remember what’s important and to hit the pause button whenever I forget to breathe.~ Kort

After a recent health scare, I wanted to read this book as the title read - how to press pause, before life does it for you. Exactly what I needed to do to lower stress levels and breathe. This is a beautifully designed and illustrated book, that instantly drew me in. However, I realized that it does not provide a process to Pause that flows from one step to the other but more like individual themes to meditate upon and get in touch with our inner selves.The tone of the book was a little different from the preface on the back cover that resonated with me instantly, as it spoke about physical symptoms of our inner restlessness and stress. But the contents inside seemed a bit impersonal and almost lofty in the tone of the book. For instance, the author just asked too many questions one after the another in some chapters, when I was barely able to contemplate the first one. Overall, I just found the style hard to read in sequence and started jumping to chapters at random. There were interesting thoughts and wisdom but I did not know what process to follow by reading them in this fashion. It almost seems like each chapter is independent of the other and has its own exercises and instructions.The book has some inspirational quotes and some interesting exercises. It's also beautiful, but just does not connect with me on some level. I would still recommend the book as this process can be different for everyone.

This is a very beautiful book. I almost wanted to smell the pages. No, I’m not being sarcastic, but I should explain that comment. If you have ever gone into a sparsely designed area where everything is exactly spaced. Often there has been attention to sound and smell. Think water dripping or flutes and the smell of sandalwood, cucumber and other soothing fragrances. This is this book. I work with some graphic designers that would positively coo over this book, from the tactile cover, to the beautiful interaction of color and fonts. The only issue I had in this regard, was that the contrast of the text to the page was not enough to read comfortably in low light. A book like this is great to read after you have gotten in bed and my side bed lamp was insufficient for reading this book, due to the low contrast on some of the text in this book.The first part of the book, sections 1 & 2 and most of part 3 did not resonate with me at all.This part of the content, to me seems to have less thought put into it. Sometimes it seems disjointed. In many ways it’s the same things over and over again just said a different way. I also didn’t relate with the writing. Sometimes when you read stuff, you get “Aha” moments and can emphasize with what is being said. For me this portion of the book came across as a set of lectures. Talking at me.These exercises left me flat. They were too specific. However when I got later into part 3, the exercises had a bit more reach.After the Introduction, you have 4 sections:Part 1: Sets the tone for the book, the Power of Pause. There are about 6 exercises here. A few I found completely inscrutable. One was more a lecture and the other asked for your habits around the seasons. That would take me a year to construct, not sure anyone remembers from season to season. It’s not like my job changes season to season either, I still get up at 5:15AM.Part 2: is all about Resistance. Resistance to Pausing. No exercises here. I’m assuming then the author thinks we all need to pause and there is no test for how urgent it is. As a person who has spent my career and life re-evaluating what is important to me (Case in point, this is another self help book, I’m reading), I may not need to pause as much as the next person.Part 3: Is about the Pause process itself. Mostly sorting out what works and what does not. This section has many exercises, and covers the breadth of the work. So much so, after the previous sections, it seemed one after the other. The later exercises to me had more value. The questions may be generic, but could bear fruit in the answers in that they weren’t so pointed..Part 4: Is about using the Pause process, day to day, more of a maintenance aspect. This had a lot of mini-pauses, such as yoga breathing exercises. So many so, you could use them all, or pick one that worked for you.My complaints on many of the early exercises, while somewhat familiar, seemed abrupt. Think of what you want for your future. Well then write “What I want is….”. Duh. I could have thought of that.. We all have questions about what we want and why are we here, but to provide a writing assignment that forces you to answer these exact same questions, to me seems to be lazy writing. Often when there is an issue, and a person can’t put a finger on it, the last thing you want to do is tell them: Tell me what the issue is. They don’t know. There has to be a way of easing into these thoughts. Having loved Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s way” and the practice of morning pages, this seems not very well thought out. The more open-end approach of “The Artist Way”, leads you to see trends and concerns more holistically and not forced. This book does a bunch of mapping and very specific questions that most of us could have figured out on our own. Only in the later section of part 3 does it start to tease out the issues. Vision boards may also be limited by the source of the pictures. Heck most of us do a pseudo vision board on Pinterest. No mention of considering that?Overall I found this book beautiful to look at, but like the low contrast text, not enough thought was put into the “Usability” of this Pause method. Form over function. The later exercises and maintenance pauses have some value, but a person might quit long before they get there.

Nothing new here, and many will find the content a little 'out there' in terms of spirituality.I decided to get this with the Audible book, and found the narrator's voice grinding.Basically, take time out of your hectic life to find quiet and calm. The author also seems to repeatedly market their rejuvenating retreats.

The title did it for me. We all live different /busy lives. There are domestic demands, as grandparents that cannot be overlooked and are undertaken with out complaint. Life unfortunately also can come with health issues, for some, that need addressing. With the greatest will in the world sometimes the word no is like a ballistic missle but none the less necessary. This book helps to make the reader realise that and occasionally say no without feeling the guilt. I recommend this book.

Danielle captures the essence of what it means to be amidst transition and need a pause in life before life does it for you. Worthwhile for all of us - whether in transition or not!! Inspiring read!

There is some good content in there which is certainly worth a read, however my advice would be to read it, as oppose to listen to it. Unfortunately the narrator/authors voice is totally wrong for the book and is at best annoying.

Superb book, very very helpful for calming busy lives. Highly recommend.