Pause, Don’t Stop – Abide in the Vine

Isn’t it aggravating, former procrastinators, when you have a routine you follow and something interrupts your best laid plans?  The repairman arrives just as you begin writing or tackling the hall closet clean out.

“I missed my scheduled time to write, so now I’ve missed my whole opportunity. Gone!  My writing time is gone for the day.”  You think you can’t write – so you don’t.

How can we course correct this thinking that sabotages us? Think, “Pause, don’t stop.”

Long ago I read this short sentence which has served me well.  Pause to take care of the urgent, then return as soon as possible to your interrupted task. If your routine time has passed, likely there’s another small slot in the day you can grab.  Or, another chore or activity can be moved for you to write.  Maybe you can sit nearby while the repairman works and write a little bit or jot down ideas.

Often, when we say “I can’t,” we do more damage to our routine or schedule than the interruption does.  We throw up our hands and declare “That’s it!” when a little reminder might enable us to move forward with our priority work, play, or rest. Not ideal? It’s still progress.

If you’ve set a mini habit goal for writing, say 50 words, then you know you only have to do that tiny little bit to achieve success.  Maybe it’s less than you’ve become accustomed to doing, but it’s still progress and still meets the goal.  Remember, we accomplish more doing a little bit consistently than by doing a lot occasionally.  Be glad.  Accept a little bit, then do the next thing.  (Small Steps to Big Change – Mini-Habits, October 17, 2021) I find it helpful to think “self control” under the Holy Spirit rather than “will power.”)

That reminds us that if we can do the least little bit of the routine or habit, then we’ve contributed to the neural pathway we need to form in our brain.  Skipping the routine item makes it easier to skip another day as well.  It makes it more difficult to form or maintain the habit, but not impossible.

Lying down with your eyes closed for 10 minutes isn’t a nap, but it’s beneficial.  Cleaning out the bottom of the closet isn’t the whole thing, but it’s worthwhile.  “Pause, don’t stop” helps us  trade a pouty attitude for joyful gratitude.

An interruption might be an appointment from God. Seek Him. Stop if He says to stop. Don’t automatically let interruptions be an excuse.  “Pause, don’t stop” might be a useful tool.

When were you recently interrupted and could’ve used “Pause, don’t stop”?