Preshana Bhimma on why we all need to learn the power of the pause
As Women’s Month comes to a close, author Preshana Bhimma joined Zisto Mhlongo on East Coast Radio to talk about slowing down, breaking unhealthy habits and learning to make space for yourself.
Life can feel like one long list of things that need to be done.
Between work, family, relationships and everything else demanding our attention, simply stopping can sometimes feel impossible.
For author Preshana Bhimma, learning to pause became part of a deeply personal journey.
Speaking to Zisto Mhlongo on East Coast Radio, Preshana explained that her new book, The Power of the Pause, was inspired by a period in her own life when constantly pushing forward eventually caught up with her.
She described reaching a roadblock after experiencing both physical and mental pain, beginning what would become a six-year journey of changing the way she thought about her life.
Sometimes the first step is simply being still
For women who feel as though they are constantly carrying everyone and everything around them, Preshana’s advice starts with something surprisingly simple: stop.
She encouraged listeners to sit still and allow themselves to observe their thoughts instead of constantly moving on to the next task.
According to Preshana, many of us have become trapped in habits that make being busy feel normal, even when those habits are no longer serving us.
She believes recognising when you have had enough can be the moment things begin to change.
Is pausing a luxury?
In a culture where being busy is often worn as a badge of honour, taking time for yourself can easily feel indulgent.
But Preshana believes a pause can become essential, particularly when life reaches a point where something needs to change.
Her own experience taught her the importance of addressing what is overwhelming you, practising self-care and sometimes even changing your environment to create space for a new direction.
Her message to women is one of resilience, but also redirection.
Rather than pouring all of our energy outward, Preshana encourages women to turn some of that attention inward.
The Power of the Pause shares the lessons from that journey and encourages readers to consciously stop, reflect and decide what they want the next part of their lives to look like.
Listen to Zisto Mhlongo’s full conversation with Preshana Bhimma