THE PAUSE

Everything in life has a natural rhythm. Activity is followed by rest, and rest is in turn followed by activity. This is the way nature operates. People often strain against this pattern. Many of us frequently force ourselves to work continuously for hours. Some of us even take pride in this and wear it like a badge of honor.

In this zeal to prove ourselves, we unwittingly work against our own best interests. Fatigue builds up in the absence of breaks, and the quality of our work suffers. We end up exhausted, but have only poor results to show for it.

It is time we take ourselves back to the natural rhythm. While diligence and dedication are important qualities, doing the best possible job while keeping your health and sanity is even more important. Create a cadence in everything you do, so that at regular intervals you take a break from being active. Relax, rest and recharge so you can transition back to activity with renewed vigor.

The Tao Today

Insert regular pauses into your daily activities. Regardless of how urgent something may seem, never work on it nonstop. Think of it like breathing. With every breath in, there must also be a breath out. Holding it too long at any point is detrimental to you. It is exactly like that with life.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin