The Power of the Pause: Why I Took a Step Back
Recently, I felt called to go inwards. Not to achieve a specific goal or reach a new milestone, but simply because it felt right.
For a while, my creative energy was poured into a major personal project: writing my memoir. After having it reviewed by an editor, I hit a crossroads. I found myself contemplating whether the message within those pages was meant for the world to share, or if the writing was simply a process I needed for my own healing. That contemplation continues, but in the space between those thoughts, I realized I had lost sight of why I started this blog in the first place: to share insights with you, my clients, in a creative and meaningful way.
Since my last post, life has been a whirlwind of adventures, but it has also required some difficult emotional navigation. I watched a dear friend go through a major period of shift and growth. It was a reminder that while we want to be supportive, another person’s life path is theirs alone.
It was a challenging season because I had to balance my desire to be there for them with my own personal boundaries. It became clear that we both needed space to honor our individual journeys. Choosing to step back in a relationship isn't about walking away; it’s about creating the room necessary for clarity and respect.
Taking space is one of my favorite coping skills. It doesn't always have to be a "major" life shift; often, the most effective space is found in the small moments:
The Physical Reset: Choosing to lay on the bedroom floor for five minutes to ground your nervous system.
The Creative Break: Walking away from a confusing project rather than continuing to "fuss" with it.
The Emotional Boundary: Giving a situation 24 hours of silence before responding.
Every time I take space, I find that a new solution eventually presents itself. It is this practice of resting and recuperating that has led me to a new sense of peace.
It feels like the right time to return to this blog. I needed that interval to rest, but I never truly left the mission of this practice. Thank you for your patience and for walking this path with me. I look forward to sharing more of the journey with you soon.
About the Author
Sarah Lacy, LPCC is an EMDR Specialist and Life Coach based in Rocky River, Ohio. She provides in-person support to the Lakewood, Westlake, and Bay Village communities, as well as Telehealth sessions throughout the state.
If these words resonate with you, reach out to take the next step in your healing journey.
