This Is Your Reminder
Tiny one-minute pauses for when you’re just trying to get through the day.
You sit in your car, Charlotte, N.C. traffic buzzing around you, or parked quietly in your Waxhaw, N.C. driveway. Your hands hover over the wheel. You haven’t moved. Your chest feels heavy. The day hasn’t even started, and already you feel behind.
Most people I talk to don’t actually hate meditation. They just feel like they’re bad at it. They say things like, “I’ve tried, but I can’t stop my thoughts,” or “I get distracted too easily,” or “I want the benefits… I just don’t think I can get there.” So they write it off. And they keep going. Tired, tense, overwhelmed, but used to it. Because that’s what we do, right? We get good at pushing through. We function. We cope. We wake up, go through the motions, and fall asleep wondering why we feel so off. Not broken. Just… off. Like something’s missing, but there’s no space to figure out what.
But maybe we don’t need to figure it all out. Maybe we just need a moment. Not a full-on practice. Not a transformation. Just a tiny interruption. A minute. Maybe less. A crack in the autopilot.
Four quiet pauses you can try today (or any day)
So what does it look like to interrupt the autopilot?
Here are four quiet moments that don’t require a cushion or a candle. Just your body, your breath, and a willingness to notice.
Don’t Call It Meditation
You don’t need to light a candle or close your eyes. Just sit in your car for a second. No music. No scrolling. Just stillness. Feel the weight of your body in the seat. Let your hands rest.And say to yourself: “This is a lot.” That’s it. No fixing. No judgment. Just truth.
The Clench Check
Maybe you try that and realize your jaw is tight. Your shoulders are creeping up. Your gut is clenched. We hold so much tension without realizing it. So try this: unclench just one thing. Just one. Let that be your start. Whether you’re in your kitchen or your Charlotte office parking lot, softening one thing is enough.
The Question You Were Never Asked
Most of us were never taught to pause and check in. We were taught to hold it together. To keep moving. So here’s a question you might not ask yourself enough: “What am I pretending not to feel today?” Put your hand on your chest. Take one slow breath. Ask it gently. No need to answer. Just give it airtime.
You Don’t Have to Be Ready
Mornings are heavy for a lot of people, especially Mondays. Before you do anything, before you reach for your phone, try this: “I don’t have to be ready. I just have to begin.” Then move one foot. Then the other. That’s it. These tiny moments won’t solve everything. They’re not supposed to. But they are invitations. To slow down. To notice. To stop performing for a second and let yourself be real.
If these pauses gave you even a sliver of peace, keep returning. You’re not far. You’re not broken. You’re just one moment away from beginning again. And if all you do today is pause for one breath, that’s still a beginning.
May the wisdom of your Meditative Insights light your way. And may each step be a graceful return to your truest self.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Danielle
