Pause and Flinch

Before I delve deeper, I am providing a quick definition of these two words for us to be calibrated through the journey of this article.

Pause- a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action

Flinch - to avoid doing something because it is unpleasant or difficult

I read a LinkedIn article on “Pause” where the author emphasised on mindful use of pause in our lives. As a person who has a bias for action, this thought isn’t new to me but it started honing in me. I was keen to apply it in areas and start observing its impact.

While on my course of “pausing” a dear friend shared a wonderful article “The Flinch”. As is obvious, the author is encouraging us to stop flinching as flinch support status quo and keeps you from potential change. He encouraged us to embrace discomfort, face our fears, try new experiences which will provide us opportunities for personal and professional growth.

You see my conundrum? Both are great advice, so should I pause or flinch. If I am pausing, am I flinching and losing an opportunity to learn?

I reflected on this for some time to realize the inherent sameness between pause and flinch. Let me explain with a few examples. In the arena of sharing my thoughts, discussing topics, I hardly take a pause! I will be the first to attempt answering a question, expressing my opinion or debating a topic without “pausing”. “No pause” in these situations more often than not deteriorates the discourse. Hence in these situations to flinch will be to take a pause!! I am flinching to pause to change my status quo, to listen, to reflect, to be fine with awkward silences. Flinch to take pause is working well with my teenage daughter where instead of an unmindful volley of words, I pause to see where a reflective silence will lead this conversation to.

Conversely, I flinch like everyone else to stay in the comfort zone. I flinch when I see a group of acquaintances and feign not noticing them, I flinch to take a cold shower, I flinch in partaking a new experience beyond my comfort realm, I flinch in befriending new people, oh I could go on!

But in the last couple of weeks, I am flinching less. I volunteer to do tasks and said yes to do more things than ever before. One of my “no flinch” experience landed me to visit Adiyogi gaining an experience and along with it 2 great friends! It won’t be easy not to flinch every time but the sheer consciousness that I am flinching, will help me course correct to an extent possible.

What is the one thing that you would like to Un Flinch?

#Pause&Reflect

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