posted 27th May 2025
The Power of Pausing: Why Space to Think Matters
Through years of working with clients, I’ve noticed a pattern that occurs across professions, ages, and life circumstances. So many of us find ourselves caught in an exhausting cycle of action and reaction, rarely pausing to process our thoughts or feelings.
For the dedicated professional, there might be brief moments of achievement – a project completed, a goal reached, recognition received. But these feelings rarely last. Soon, all energy turns back toward the next deadline, the next challenge, the next pursuit of that elusive sense of accomplishment. The cost? Often our health, relationships, and connection to what truly matters.
This shared experience reveals something profound: we have forgotten the power of pausing.
We live in a society that celebrates the "multi-tasker" and admires those who seem successful in every domain while still looking effortless. Even our job descriptions demand people who can "thrive in fast-paced environments." But consider: this constant motion might be the very thing preventing you from accessing your own wisdom and making decisions that truly align with what matters to you.
Technology has eliminated many natural pauses from our day. Remember waiting for an appointment before mobile phones? Or train journeys where we might have gazed out of the window, letting our minds wander? These moments of pause have largely disappeared in our daily lives.
Many of us also experience discomfort with silence and stillness. When I ask new clients to take a moment to consider a question, I often see visible unease. We’ve become so accustomed to noise and activity that quiet reflection feels strange, even uncomfortable.
What Happens When We Create Space to Think
I had a client who came to me feeling overwhelmed by workplace politics and conflicting priorities. In our sessions, we deliberately incorporated periods of reflection – sometimes just 30 seconds of silence after a question. Although she felt initially uncomfortable, these pauses gradually became the most valuable elements of our work together. She later shared with me “What I realised, was that I already knew many of the answers I was seeking. I just never gave myself permission to listen to my own thoughts.”
Another client I saw was facing a significant career decision. Rather than jumping into pros and cons lists or seeking more external opinions, we focused on creating space for his own wisdom to emerge. The result was clarity that felt authentic rather than forced – a decision that aligned with his values rather than others’ expectations.
As one client testimonial beautifully captures: “I was at a crossroads in my career and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect when I first started coaching with Rebecca but wow what a difference it has made to me having time to think and plan ahead to achieve success in my new role! Coaching at first felt like a luxury but now I see coaching as a necessity.”
How I Incorporate Pausing in My Coaching Approach
Creating thinking space is key to how I work with clients. Here are some of the approaches I use:
Comfortable Silence: I normalise periods of reflection during our sessions. When I ask a question to promote curiosity, I don’t rush to fill silence but create space for genuine reflection.
Freedom of Thought: Many clients benefit from uninterrupted time to express their thoughts without analysis or external judgment. This simple practice often reveals patterns and insights that remain hidden when we’re constantly in motion.
Values Exploration: Understanding what truly matters to you requires space to think beyond immediate pressures and others’ expectations. As one client shared: “I now put values first before others’ needs which is revolutionary for me.”
Question Journaling: Between sessions, I often invite clients to sit with a single powerful question, returning to it over several days without forcing an answer. The insights that emerge are invariably richer than immediate responses.
Simple Ways You Can Create Thinking Space
You don’t need formal coaching to begin experiencing the benefits of pausing. Here are three practices you might want to try:
The Daily Pause: Set a timer for just three minutes each morning before checking emails or social media. Sit quietly and ask yourself: “What really matters today?” Notice what arises without over analysing what comes up for you.
Commute Transition: Use the first five minutes of your journey home (or the transition from work to personal time if you work from home) as a boundary. No phone, no computer, tablet, or iPad – just space to process and release the day.
Question Walking: Take a 15-minute walk with a single question you’re contemplating. No podcasts or calls – just you, movement in an outside space, and open curiosity about this question.
The Transformative Impact of Thinking Space
Another of my clients shared “No matter how chaotic I felt or how confused I was by what others expected of me vs what I wanted to achieve, I always felt understood by Rebecca. She is calm and had confidence in my abilities which in turn gave me confidence. The coaching sessions helped me to break down the small things that made a big difference to how I was feeling at work.” This testimonial captures what can happen when we create space to think clearly – chaos begins to settle, confusion gives way to clarity, and confidence emerges. Small shifts often create a ripple effect to create a bigger difference.
Ready to Create Your Own Thinking Space?
In my coaching approach, I believe that most of us don’t need more information or advice – we need space to process what we already know and reconnect with our own wisdom. As one client simply put it: “The sessions made me think and then re-think. I came away feeling more confident about my future actions.”
The truth is that you already have the answers you’re seeking. They’re there, waiting in the quiet moments between the noise and urgency of daily life.
Start small today: Choose one of the three practices above and commit to trying it for just one week. Notice what emerges when you give your mind permission to pause.
Ready for deeper exploration?
If you’re curious about how professional coaching can create the sustained thinking space you need to move forward with clarity and confidence, I’d love to offer you a free 20-minute consultation. During this conversation, we’ll explore what’s currently feeling overwhelming or unclear in your work or life, and you’ll experience firsthand how powerful it can be to have dedicated space to think.
There’s no pressure, no sales pitch – just an opportunity to pause, reflect, and discover what’s possible when you give yourself the gift of thinking time.