Wellness Inspired Podcast
Real conversations. Real-life wellness.
Hosted by Sheri Davidson, a licensed acupuncturist and certified wellness coach, the Wellness Inspired Podcast explores the messy, meaningful, and often unexpected path to feeling well—and staying well—in a world that constantly demands more.
Wellness Inspired Podcast
The Pause: A Wellness Reset Between What Was and What’s Next
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We often talk about growth as forward motion, but what if the real breakthrough comes when we slow down? In this episode, I reflect on my recent wellness river cruise and how choosing stillness helped me reset mentally, emotionally, and physically.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why momentum can become its own kind of stress
- How intentional space can support nervous system healing
- What a “long pause” really looks like—and why it matters
- Simple ways to create pauses in your everyday life
🎧 Press play if you’re craving clarity, calm, or just a moment to breathe.
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Welcome to Wellness Inspired Podcast
Speaker 1Hello , wellness adventurist , welcome back to another episode of the wellness inspired podcast , a place where you can find inspiration , motivation and empowerment in the pursuit of a wellness lifestyle . I'm your host , sherry Davidson . I'm a wellness coach , acupuncturist , trail runner and former interior designer in Houston , texas , and I am deeply passionate about health and wellbeing . And , as always , I'm here with my co-host , finn , and if you're new to the podcast , finn is my Terrier , mix Rescue Dog , trail runner and loyal companion . He is also a therapy dog and greeter at Element 5 , acupuncture and Wellness . And we have something special for you .
Speaker 1In our last episode , episode 79 , wellness Travel Reset how Intentional Trips Support Long-Term Wellbeing . We talked about the powerful ways intentional travel can create space for reflection and long-lasting wellness shifts . Well , today we are going one layer deeper , because sometimes it's not just about resetting and recharging , because sometimes it's not just about resetting and recharging , it's about stopping the momentum that is carrying us in the wrong
The Power of the Pause Explained
Speaker 1direction . And that's what I'll be sharing with you today the power of the pause , what it means , why it matters and how my recent wellness river cruise became more than a getaway . It became a long pause that helped me release what wasn't serving me and reclaim a clearer , steadier mindset , and it makes me a little sad because at this point in the episode I would be promoting the Wellness River Cruise but I just got back from it . I have a lot to share from it and it makes me sad that I won't be promoting it , but I am onto the next . I'm creating another one . So whenever I get that together , I'll be back here promoting the next wellness trip .
Speaker 1Okay , let's jump in . We talk a lot about moving forward , about momentum , progress , growth , but what happens when the momentum itself becomes the problem , when the path you're on starts leading you somewhere you no longer want to go , but it feels impossible to stop ? That's where the pause comes , in , the space between what was and what's next . It's a space we rarely choose for ourselves . Usually , life forces it on us through burnout , illness or moments where everything feels like too much . But what if we choose it ? Or moments where everything feels like too much , but what if we choose it ?
Speaker 1That was the intention I set for my recent wellness river cruise to embrace the pause , to stop the momentum , not just the busyness , but the mental and emotional patterns that were pulling me in a direction . I didn't wanna continue and , let me be honest , this wasn't something a good night's sleep could fix . I tried many times . This wasn't something a good night's sleep could fix . I tried many times . Rest wasn't enough . I needed something stronger . I needed a long pause , and it took time . The first few days the old patterns kept showing up the fear , worry , that sense of rushing towards a future . I didn't want of rushing towards a future I didn't want , but slowly , with quiet mornings , meditation and space to breathe , the momentum began to slow until it stopped and in that stillness , clarity emerged . So today we are talking about that pause , why it matters , how it can change not just a trip
Breaking Negative Momentum Patterns
Speaker 1or a season , but your entire relationship with growth , resilience and change .
Speaker 1Before the trip , I asked everyone on the Wellness River Cruise to set an intention . Like I said , mine was simple but powerful to embrace the pause , to stop the momentum that was no longer serving me , so I could create peace and clarity and return with a new mindset . What many people don't realize is that momentum isn't always positive . It can be stress , worry , fear , and when it builds it can feel like being swept down a river you no longer want to ride but can't seem to get out , and that's where I found myself before the cruise . Like many of you , I tried rest . I tried little things good sleep , meditation breaks in my day . But the momentum was too strong . I needed more than a quick reset . I needed what I now call a long pause , and that's what this trip became for me .
Speaker 1But it didn't happen immediately . The first few days the momentum followed me . I woke up early with worry , the same looping thoughts , emotions , and at night I'd catch my mind rushing ahead or replaying the past . So I leaned into the practices I know morning meditation , stillness , breathing deeply , as I sat on the balcony of our room watching the world float by , letting the movement of the river remind me that momentum can shift , but only when we stop trying to force it . By midweek , something started to change . The early wake-ups became less frequent , the fears and worries started to lose their emotional grip and I felt myself returning to a grounded , steady place . The pause was working , not because I forced it , but because I allowed it .
Speaker 1So why does the pause matter so much ? Because without it , momentum tends to do what momentum does ? It keeps going , even when it's carrying us somewhere we no longer want to be . Our nervous system craves patterns , and once a pattern of fear , overthinking or chronic stress sets in , it builds speed . A weekend off won't always slow it down . A single good night sleep won't always stop it . Sometimes it takes something bigger , a deliberate , spacious pause to break the cycle . And this is why wellness isn't just about doing more . It's not always about the next biohack habit or productivity tool . It's about knowing when to stop , to interrupt the patterns that no longer service , to step into the space between what was and what's next . And this is what I love about wellness .
Speaker 1Travel done intentionally , it's not an escape . It's a conscious decision . To pause intentionally , it's not an escape . It's a conscious decision to pause , reflect and rest , to create distance from the noise and busyness of daily life so you can hear yourself again . On the river cruise , I saw this happening , not just for me , but for others too . Each person had a different reason for being there . Some wanted rest , some sought inspiration and some simply wanted quiet , but all of us were in some way entering the pause , and that space created the conditions for clarity , healing and perspective to emerge .
Finding Pause in Travel Experiences
Speaker 1And that's the beauty of the pause is that it doesn't look the same for everyone , and on this cruise I witnessed that firsthand . For me , it was the slow mornings on the balcony , coffee in hand , watching the world drift by . It was the stillness of the water and the soft hum of the boat reminding me not every moment has to be filled . One day I biked through the city of Vienna , weaving past grand architecture and along the vibrant artist canal where street art told stories of the city's creative pulse . On another day , I rode through the countryside near Krems . We passed blooming apple orchards and rolling vineyards , eventually arriving in the quaint Austrian town of Dernstein , with its cobblestone street and blue church tower rising above the landscape .
Speaker 1Unlike my usual endurance ride , where speed and distance are the focus , these rides were different . The pace was slower . We stopped often to admire the scenery , take in the crisp spring air and simply be in the moment . And that small shift was a practice in embracing the pause even while moving . It wasn't about covering ground , it was about experiencing the ground beneath me .
Speaker 1I also noticed how others on the trip found their own pauses . Some spent quiet hours reading , others chose solitude on deck or deep conversations over local mills . Others chose solitude on deck or deep conversations over local mills . One evening , a few of us gathered to share reflections , not in a formal way , but organically , as people often do when they feel safe and unhurried . And what stood out was this Every person , whether consciously or not , was slowing the momentum of their everyday lives . We were each reclaiming space for something we rarely give ourselves time to reflect without the pressure to immediately act . These moments remind me that pausing isn't just about stopping . It's about making room for the insights and emotions that can't surface when life is moving too fast , when the momentum is going .
Speaker 1So here are some practical takeaways , because the truth is not everyone can take a river cruise or an extended trip when they need a pause . I totally get that , although I hope you all come on my next wellness trip I don't know if it'll be a cruise , but I will do a cruise again but there are some things that we can do at home to create moments of stillness and reflection in our daily lives . So if you do it with intention , you have to do it with intention . So here are a few ways to create your own pause , even in the middle of a busy season , when you can't jump on a boat for two weeks well , a week ,
Creating Your Own Pause Daily
Speaker 1okay . So number one morning stillness . So , instead of diving into your phone or a to-do list .
Speaker 1Take five , 10 , 15 quiet minutes each morning . Sit , breathe , let the day come to you before you rush towards it . I do this every morning . I actually do it before I get out of the bed . I used to grab my phone because I would turn off my alarm and I would grab my phone and get on , look at my email , like before I even opened both eyes . I would do this and I have stopped . So now I take about five to 10 minutes . I breathe , I welcome the day in , I think about you , know what a beautiful day it's going to be , and it's just a nice way to start , to start my day .
Speaker 1Another thing that you can do is a midday nature break . This is why I love trail running . Obviously , I don't go trail running in the middle of the day because I'm at work , but I do live and work in a walkable area , so sometimes Ben and I will step outside , even if it's for a few minutes . Just notice the trees , the clouds , the sounds around you . We've been in this area for so long . We know a lot of the people who work in the area , and so we love just walking and waving to people . That's one of my favorite things , but shifting your environment , even briefly , can interrupt mental momentum and emotional momentum .
Speaker 1Okay , number three is evening reflection . So ask yourself what momentum am I carrying into tomorrow and is it serving me ? Journaling or even a simple mental check-in can help you release what's not needed . And number five mindful movement . So , whether it's a walk , yoga or even stretching I love yin yoga Let it be about the experience , not performance or progress . Just feel it .
Speaker 1And Finn speaks . I'll give him some airtime , he deserves it . Okay , back to back on topic . Uh , let's see . Where were we ? Um , we were talking about mindful movement . Um , yes , we were talking about when , uh , fear or worry loop show up . That's where we were . So , yes , because they inevitably will show up . So meet them with curiosity rather than urgency . At least that pause can be enough to prevent old patterns from regaining that speed or momentum . You just slow that momentum down a little bit . Or momentum , you just slow that momentum down a little bit . Okay , so I think the next part here .
Speaker 1We're about to wrap it up , but I just want to invite you . If you've been feeling the weight of your own momentum , whether it's stress , worry or just the relentless pace of life . I invite you to consider what a pause might look like for you . Not a vacation , not an escape a conscious pause . So what does that look like for you ? It could be a quiet morning ritual , an intentional break from over committing , or even joining a wellness travel experience like mine , where the space to reset and reflect is built right into the design . If this idea of pausing and reclaiming your clarity resonates with you , I'd love to connect . You can learn more about my coaching or future wellness travel experiences at my website wellness inspired podcast , or just reach out directly , just DM me .
Speaker 1Sometimes , the first step to creating new momentum is simply recognizing that you are ready to stop the old one . So , as we wrap up today's conversation , I want to leave you with this thought the pause isn't where progress ends , it's where clarity begins . When we stop the momentum that no longer serves us , even briefly , we create the space for new perspectives , new choices and new energy to emerge , whether it's through wellness travel , a morning of stillness or simply choosing to say no to what drains . You
Episode Closing and Resources
Speaker 1remember , the pause is not passive . It's an active , courageous decision to stop moving in the wrong direction so you can discover what's next . Thank you for sharing the space with me today and if this episode resonated with you , feel free to reach out , share your reflections or leave a review . It helps me continue these meaningful conversations with you . So until next time , keep exploring , keep discovering and remember the most important momentum is the one you choose .
Speaker 1If you like what you hear , please subscribe to the podcast and share with your family and friends . You can also give me a rating and review . Wherever you listen to your podcast , it helps others find me as well . To get updates on new episodes and wellness inspiration in your inbox , please join the wellness inspired community . Go to the wellness inspired podcastcom to sign up . I'll put the link to the website in the show notes so you can click and join . Also , there's a Facebook community at the wellness inspired and you can follow me on Instagram at wellness underscore inspired .
Speaker 1If you're in the Houston area or just visiting and interested in our services acupuncture , herbal medicine , cupping , zinchiatsu or dry needling therapy contact us . You can find out more on our website at element5omcom . That's element5 , the number five omcom , and again I'll put the link in the show notes . If you're interested in health and wellness coaching , we can connect in the clinic or on zoom . Reach out to us and we'll get you on the schedule and , as always , I would love to hear your feedback . I am dedicated to bringing you great content that is inspiring and informative , with an artsy , fun , edgy spin . Thank you so much for listening . We'll meet here again next time and remember never stop exploring , learning , loving and being you . Bye .