48 Comments

Enjoy your pause, Lauren 🙏. I feel the same in February which is usually the coldest month here in the American upper Midwest. It calls for a “winter solitude,” a time of walking into ourselves as RM Rilke describes it so beautifully. CG Jung ones said, the church seasons and symbols mirror our soul seasons and what we need. so when reading your call to solitude and retreat I thought about the season of Lent. Fasting does not come easy, especially when we decide to fast from our own goals 😇. Sending well wishes your way!

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Oh wow what beautiful reflections, thank you so much! That really does explain why there is the inner conflict when taking a pause from dreams and visions - because it isn't that this isn't what I want to do - it is just that the energy is not there right in this moment and I don't want to override my body's (and soul's) call to rest and re calibrate before the next steps. Like a pilgrimage - this is the overnight stay to refuel, contemplate the journey so far, and prepare for the next leg of the journey. Thank you so much for these beautiful words. xx

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Fasting from our own goals! I love this. Could be the cure for the virtuous production trap.

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Absolutely love it too!!!

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Done the survey and really want to know more about the in person retreat!

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Thank you so much! I can’t wait to go through the responses. And the details will be coming soooooon!!! Would be amazing to share it with you. Xx

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Thank you for so beautifully modeling a more relational way of being, by honoring your relationship with yourself. This is exactly the kind of example we need nowadays. Rest decadently. Sink in and restore. ♥️

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Mmmmmm resting decadently sounds very delicious. I am going to surround myself energetically with cosy blankets and yummy scents as I cocoon a little. Thank you so much for that reflection too - it feels quite against the grain, but I trust that it will be fruitful in so many ways. xxx

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It’s so beautiful to hear you’re honouring your own cycles lovely. The ebbs and flows of creative energy mixed with mothering is a ride that not many of us completely understand or listen too for that matter, so props too you for listening and honouring 🙏🏼✨we’ll be here when you’re refreshed 💫

And my golly, the London retreat sounds delicious!!!

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Thank you so much - listening and honouring feels rebellious in so many ways!!! I already feel my energy reserves refilling just by granting myself some grace and space.

Oh gosh yes I am so excited for the London retreat!!!! We will have to do a virtual one too someday. xx

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I'm so glad that you are honouring your need to pause and do what feels good to you Lauren. January sounds like it has been a full on month for you so it's no wonder you need time to pause and regroup. I totally agree with the different in volume between your intuition and the shoulds too. Excited to hear more about the London meet up - hoping to come up from Cardiff ❤️

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Oh it would be so so wonderful to share with you Jenna - the thought of meeting in person is so exciting. And thank you so much for the support - I think it was only when January came to a close that I sat and thought... phew... that was A LOT! I often miss it when I am IN IT. But now it is definitely time to take a breath. xx

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I really hope to make it! I know exactly what you mean - in the middle of it you've got no choice but to just get on with it, and it's only when you catch a breath afterwards you realise what a stressful situation it was. ❤️

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Absolutely. The adrenaline gets you through and then there is the inevitable collapse at the end. I’m hoping that by listening I will avoid total collapse… but let’s see!!! X

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Praising your alignment and ability to act with integrity on what you feel here. I am also feeling the need to cocoon (and nest!) and be present with my life as it unfolds right now. This is making me feel held in my desire to also lean into my own need slow down and not tie myself up with the idea of "being consistent". I appreciate you from the heart ♥️

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Ahhh yes the nesting phase, thank you lovely one. I am sending you love from my cocoon into yours. xxx

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Inspired by you sharing your words and your process, because I am feeling called to slow down myself. Thank you for always sharing exactly where you are, it moves me into reflection every time. Also, feeling jealous I’m no where near you for this retreat. I know it will be wonderful.

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Oh I wish you were close enough to join us!! Thank you, I really hope you find that slow pace that suits your nervous system. Xxx

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A LONDON event oh my days!!!! Beautiful offerings and so much generosity Lauren yay!! ✨✨✨

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Yes yes! London baby!!! Xx

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Imagining a leafy rooftop and cocktails - I wonder….

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I love this 💜

I really enjoyed pressing pause back in December. And I think it really helped to bring my energy and excitement back.

I hope your pause serves you. Well done for listening in and taking it

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Thank you. I actually feel so held by the comments and support from this piece that it gives me even more faith and trust in the space. It’s so good to know how the rest served you too. Xxx

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So grateful to have examples of others truly excusing themselves from capitalist expectations and modeling how to live in harmony with the internal and external seasons.

Rest, Mama.

This letter reminds me so much of one I wrote last July—explaining why I was taking a month off.

Let’s do more of this, together. Let’s create more expectation of pause, dormancy, and simply being. 🙏

https://open.substack.com/pub/thebarefootbeat/p/milestones-the-audacity-to-rest-and?r=1tmjxe&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

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Ooooof I love how you have reflected this back to me - I hadn't thought of it as being an example to others, but of course the rebelliousness of it - and as your words have it - the AUDACITY TO REST... what better way to kick back against capitalistic expectation!

I agree - more of doing this together to show people that it is OK, and safe, and imperative that we take pauses. We aren't machines. Thank you xxx

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What beautiful words Lauren, I really resonate with this space between and have often found it uncomfortable, especially if I'm resisting or trying to force order and control (my default settings) I love the energy behind a fertile pause and hope that there's lots of gorgeous space to dream and be with what is. I'll be looking out for your return ❤️

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Thank you so much Sara, and thank you for creating the opportunity for me to get quiet and listen for a few minutes. Something I am 'good' at offering to others but not so good at 'taking' myself!! I know those default settings very well... they have been running the show for a long time so can take some boldness in pushing back against... but it feels expansive in a kind of quietly rebellious way. I am excited for the dreaming. xxx

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I’m inspired by how tuned in you are to what your mind, body and soul needs. It’s highlighted to me that it’s possible to get to know myself better, and serve myself better, even if I’m not there yet. Enjoy your break, for however long it may be. I for one will be waiting on your return 💕

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Thank you so much - and gosh... it is a practice. Daily practice. Moment to moment practice. I definitely do not have it 'nailed' but have been working with self awareness for over ten years so I guess it is slowly shifting and trickling through. Go gently with yourself, it is a deep remembering - you are on the path home. xxx

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That’s a beautiful way to frame it. 💕

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I hope you enjoy your pause Lauren, I truly believe a creative hiatus every so often is so needed ✨

I've been easing back into creating over the past couple of weeks after choosing to step away from online life in December followed by the craziness of moving at the beginning of January and it felt good to really release the pressure to put something out into the world. Now that I've returned I'm feeling a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration that I was really missing towards the end of last year.

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Oh that is so wonderful to hear - I feel so baffled by the fact that there is expectation to be in that purposeful action taking state all the time - and yet it still is something that I have to work with. I can't wait to see what you create with this renewed sense. xxx

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I completely understand what you mean… the capitalist approach to creating really is insidious isn’t it?! I hope your break is going well lovely xxx

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Beautiful ❤️ honouring you x

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Grateful for you xxx

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I have been caught in a virtuous productivity here on substack, too. I got an orange check and frankly, it feels tyrannical. I don’t want to know about metrics. I just want to make good work. I will be watching how this pause goes for you with deep, personal interest. Because it’s so easy for me to say—“absolutely you must rest!”…to everybody but myself.

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Isn't it the hardest to take our own medicine??? A lifelong lesson for me too, but slowly, slowly I am resisting it a little less. That is so interesting about the orange tick... I guess it is easy to feel like we all have to aspire to those metrics and yet actually the reality is not always what is expected. I have to admit I don't look at stats or numbers very often - my brain doesn't really work in that way naturally so if anything I shy away from them... but every now and then I feel like I 'should' be paying more attention, then the reality hits that truly I just want to write and the conversations that spin off from whatever I write feel way more rich to me than numbers. Thank you so much for sharing this perspective. xxx

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To rest and no regrets!! It has been some heavy energy this past week or so..I hope you'll let yourself indulge in the supreme comfort of R&R. We're not going anywhere ;) xo

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Oooof yes it really has been... I think winter is trying to stop us from rushing too soon!!! Thank you so much - I am so grateful for the outpouring of support. I will truly be taking my own medicine and sinking into some fluffy blankets and yoga nidra practices!!! xxx

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