Five invitations for deciding between action and introspection:

Here are a few invitations I’ve found helpful for discerning whether it’s time to do something... or to pause and listen more deeply.

1. Reframe stillness as a form of progress.

Clarity isn’t always loud. Sometimes the most important movement happens when we’re quiet enough to hear what’s true. Notice the stories you hold about what is productive (action) and what is a waste of time (slowing down). Remember the car stuck in the mud.

2. Pause before you push.

It’s never a bad time to check in with yourself before taking action. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long self-therapy session. Before taking your next step, you might simply close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and notice what’s happening in your body, heart, and mind. If you find a lot of tension, and a lot of conflicting thoughts, it might be a good moment to extend the pause and explore what’s happening in your inner world.

3. Check for fear.

Where is the impulse to take action coming from? Is there fear here? Fear of failure? Fear of judgment? Fear of being seen, or not being enough? Are you moving because you feel called, or because you’re trying to outrun something?

Fear might be present (that’s human), but is it in the driver’s seat? You’ll know because action from fear often feels urgent, tight, disconnected. You may feel constriction in your body. Action from alignment feels clear, grounded, alive. Your body may feel more open and loose.

4. Watch for urgency.

Urgency is rarely a sign of clarity. It’s usually a signal that something deeper is being avoided or defended. If your action feels like it has to happen right now , slow down and check if the urgency is rooted in reality (there’s a real deadline), or in your mind.

5. Look for patterns of stuckness.

If you’re doing all the “right” things but still chronically stuck, it might be time to look inward. The problem might not be the goal or the actions you’re taking. There’s likely an inner pattern for how you relate to this type of problem.

Push or Pause?