What do wisdom and well-being have in common?

What if we are not supposed to be a workforce, but a force of work?

In a world that refuses to slow down, where AI is increasingly dominating the workplace, how can you unlock your unique human advantage?

Pausing.

"Yes, but you don't understand. I don't have time to stop and take care of myself." I hear that all the time. My answer? You don't have time not to. We tend to think of wellbeing as time off and self-care, when really, wellbeing is a flow-state where we thrive.

That said, I understand. Since the industrial revolution, we've been told that our job is about productivity, and productivity means keeping up with the speed of work.

The thing is, that's not how we access the best of our human skills. Our human advantage isn't knowledge, speed, or quick answers—we have AI for that. Our advantage is wisdom: the ability to think through complex problems, ask profound questions, and innovate.

How do we unlock this human advantage?

Pausing.

In our fast-paced world, we often find ourselves caught in a cycle of reactivity, moving from one task to another without truly being present. What if the simple act of pausing could transform our relationship with ourselves in profound ways that go beyond taking a break?

The Connection Between Wisdom and Well-being

At first glance, wisdom and well-being might seem like separate domains of human experience. Wisdom is often associated with knowledge, insight, and decision-making, while well-being relates to our physical, mental, and emotional health. Yet, these two aspects of our lives are profoundly interconnected.

When we operate from a state of well-being, we create the optimal conditions for accessing our inner wisdom. Conversely, when we honor our inner wisdom by making aligned choices, we naturally enhance our well-being.

Power-Pausing: The Bridge Between

Power-Pausing serves as the essential bridge connecting wellbeing and wisdom. This practice involves intentionally creating space in our day to step back from external demands and reconnect with ourselves. Neuroscience research shows that these intentional pauses activate our parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress hormones while increasing neural connectivity in regions associated with higher cognitive function and emotional regulation.

By pausing, we:

• Interrupt the survival mode that keeps us in a state of reactivity

• Create space to listen to our body's signals and needs

• Access deeper layers of insight that aren't available when we're rushing

• Allow intuition to emerge and guide our decisions

From Survival to Thriving: The Neuroscience of Pausing

Many of us operate in survival mode without even realizing it. This state—characterized by stress, hurry, and disconnection—keeps us from accessing our deepest wisdom. When caught in survival mode:

• Our nervous system remains in fight-or-flight

• We make decisions based on immediate pressures rather than long-term alignment

• Our well-being suffers as we override our body's signals

• The voice of our inner wisdom becomes muffled beneath the noise of urgency

Research in neuroscience shows that pausing for even 60-90 seconds activates our prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for executive function and conscious decision-making. This brief intervention interrupts the brain's default autopilot mode, allowing us to shift from reactive habit patterns to intentional choices. During these moments of pause, neural networks associated with self-awareness and perspective-taking become more active, creating the conditions for wisdom to emerge. As Harvard neuroscientist Sara Lazar notes, these micro-pauses can literally rewire our neural pathways over time.

Power-Pausing interrupts this cycle, creating the conditions for both well-being and wisdom to flourish.

Practical Power-Pausing for Your Daily Life

Here are some ways you can integrate Power-Pausing into your daily life.

• Morning start-up: Begin your day with an intentional pause before engaging with technology or demands. Create an intention for your mental presence, for example.
  For me, it might be a reminder to stay curious and agile (open-minded).
  When I know I have a lot going on, it’s to stay calm and focused.
  When I’m coaching, it’s to be grounded and present.
  When I'm speaking, it’s to be centered, connected, and engaged.

• Transition moments: Take three conscious breaths between activities. That can be meetings or moments of changing from task to task. Inhale through the nose all the way into your belly, long exhale through the mouth. Think of it as book-ending your thoughts, meetings, and moments.

• Decision points: When facing choices, pause to check in with your body and inner knowing. Pause, listen, notice, and ask, “What do I need right now so that I can…” whatever state you need to be in to engage with what is right in front of you.

• Wellbeing check-ins: Schedule brief pauses throughout your day to assess your energy, your mental state, and needs.

• Evening integration: End your day with a pause to reflect on achievements, alignment with your goal and immediate purpose, and lessons that you might be able to draw from challenges. Remember to think of this moment as both cheers and challenges.

The Ripple Effect

When we commit to Power-Pausing, the benefits extend beyond our individual experience. Our presence, clarity, and embodied wisdom influence those around us, creating ripples of more conscious, aligned living in our communities and workplaces.

Power-Pausing isn't just self-care—it's a revolutionary act. When we create that intentional space to access our wisdom and nurture our wellbeing, we don't merely transform our own experience—we become catalysts for a more conscious, connected collective.