Episode 42: The Purposeful Pause

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The Plus One Theory podcast explores how to transform pain and setbacks into stepping stones for growth. Small, intentional steps lead to significant change when we recognize we don't need to start from zero after pausing or facing challenges.

• The power of the pause gives perspective and clarity when we're struggling
• Most advice focuses on why we should pause but lacks practical implementation
• The "Pause Plus One More" method combines reflection with a small forward step
• Progress doesn't disappear when you pause, you can resume from where you left off
• Real growth comes from small, consistent actions rather than giant leaps
• Even disappointments (like selling only 10 books at a market) can be overcome with perspective
• Challenge: identify one area where you think you need to "start over"
• Write down what you've already built and learned, then choose one step forward

Join us for the free Delay the Binge Collective launch event on October 2nd from 7-8pm Central Time. Sign up at DelayTheBinge.com to receive the link or the recorded version.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hey friends, I'm Pam Dwyer and you're listening to
the Plus One Theory podcast.
This is where we talk about howto take the pain, the struggles
and the setbacks you've facedand use them as stepping stones
to finish stronger than youstarted.
The plus one theory is simpleOne more step, one more choice,

(00:33):
one more act of courage, becausesmall, intentional steps add up
to big, big change.
And today I want to talk aboutwhy you don't have to start over
.
You can begin where you leftoff and finish stronger.
And today I want to talk aboutwhy you don't have to start over
.
You can begin where you leftoff and finish stronger.
And here's where I want you tolean in, because this is where

(00:54):
so many of us miss the pause.
It's not just about grindingharder, it's about pausing.
That pause to take a deepbreath, to look around, to enjoy
the view, is where you regainclarity.
Sometimes you're climbing sohard, gripping so tight, that

(01:17):
you can't even see the betterpath right in front of you.
The pause gives you perspective, and here's the shift.
The pause gives you perspectiveand here's the shift when you
pause, you realize you're notbehind, you're not a zero.
You're simply at a place whereone more step can change
everything.

(01:37):
I've been listening a lot latelyto conversations about the
power of the pause andself-awareness.
Conversations about the powerof the pause and self-awareness.
And don't get me wrong, I lovethe concept, I believe in it.
But here's the problem Most ofthe time, people just talk about

(02:02):
why we should pause, why itmatters and why it changes
things.
And let's be honest, we've allheard the why a thousand times.
When it comes to improving ourhealth and well-being, we know
the drill.
We know why we should eatbetter, move more or slow down.
But here's the truth Knowingwhy doesn't mean we actually do

(02:22):
it.
Knowing why doesn't mean weactually do it.
We think tomorrow I'm not goingto do this anymore, but we do
why.
That's where Delay the Binge isdifferent.
It's not just talk, it'ssolutions.
Together we uncover your uniquetriggers and patterns, the real

(02:45):
why behind them, and then wecreate your personalized way to
pause and we take one more stepforward together.
That's how we move fromawareness to actual change.
I think I've told some of youthis story, but when I was in
junior high, our coaches hadthis rule If you stop running

(03:07):
during the time mile, you had tostart the whole thing over.
Can you imagine?
Mentally that was crushing.
Physically it wore us all down.
And looking back, it wasn'tteaching us resilience, it was

(03:29):
teaching us failure.
The real lesson should havebeen you don't have to go back
to zero, you just pick up whereyou left off and you keep moving
.
That's how you finish stronger.
Now don't get me wrong.
I will always, alwaysappreciate those coaches,
because that's where the plusone theory was born.
I used the pain for a purposeand for anyone who has ever

(03:53):
given birth, you'll get this one.
Imagine if every time a motherhad to stop pushing, she had to
start the whole process overagain.
That baby would never be born.
Life doesn't work like that.
Progress doesn't vanish justbecause you pause.
You don't lose everythingbecause you had to take a breath

(04:17):
.
You keep going.
From where you are, the milestill gets finished, the baby is
born, the business can stillgrow and the healing can still
take root.
And here's the secret Realprogress doesn't come from giant
leaps.

(04:37):
It's the small, intentionalsteps that add up over time.
One more push, one more lap,one more phone call, one more
healthy choice that's the plusone theory.
Every step, no matter how small, stacks up and builds the
strength, resilience and resultsyou're looking for.

(05:00):
You're not starting over.
You're carrying forwardeverything you've already built.
And this is where I want tointroduce something new, because
after the pause comes the nextstep.
I call it the pause plus onemore.
It's simple when you feel theurge to fall back into an old

(05:22):
pattern, you pause, a purposefulpause, and then you add one
more step forward, one small,intentional action that serves
you instead of sabotaging you.
That's how change sticks.
That's how new patterns arebuilt.

(05:43):
Let me share a fresh story.
Recently, I went to a Christmasmarket with high hopes of
selling my books from the PineyWoods.
I invested a lot of time, money, energy decorating my booth,
preparing everything, and myfamily was right there beside me
helping me.
I imagined people lined upconnecting with my story.

(06:06):
But after three days I sold areyou ready?
Ten books, ten Over three days,at a very expensive market.
Old patterns started to creepin and I thought maybe I
shouldn't do this anymore.

(06:26):
Maybe I should just go get anormal job and quit putting my
family through the stress ofwondering if this dream is
really working.
That was the moment I had topractice what I preach.
I had to practice what I preach.
I paused, a purposeful pause,and then I added one more step.

(06:47):
I remembered my why.
I reminded myself that thismessage matters, that even if I
didn't sell out a booth, thestory I carry is still one that
can help others heal and grow.
And instead of giving up, Ithought outside the box, which

(07:07):
is what I do best.
I will not give up Because thismessage is important, y'all, to
so many who need to hear it andto so many who can thrive from
it.
So here's my challenge to youthis week Think about one area
in your life where you've said Ihave to start over.

(07:31):
Maybe it's your health, maybeit's a project, or maybe it's a
relationship.
Instead of scrapping it, I wantyou to pause, write down what
you've already built and whatyou've already learned.
Write down what you've alreadybuilt and what you've already
learned, and then you circle.
One thing you can do one small,intentional step to move

(07:53):
forward from here, from thispoint, not from zero, from where
you are.
And don't forget you will slipback into old habits.
Sometimes we all do.
That's what our brains like todo Run to the familiar by
focusing on yesterday.
But give yourself grace, bepatient, look forward.

(08:16):
Every purposeful pause.
Every one more step is part ofbuilding a new pattern and a new
, you Don't forget.
October 2nd is our launch eventfor the Delay the Binge
Collective, so it's free foreveryone this time around.

(08:38):
And if you go toDelayTheBingecom, you can sign
up and you'll get the link.
Join us at 7 to 8 pm CentralTime, and if you can't join us,
that's OK.
If I have your email, I'm goingto send you the recorded

(09:00):
version of the most amazinglaunch event ever.
Please sign up.
It really does show yoursupport.
And if you know of someone thatcould use it, send them.
Send them the delaythebingecominformation.
Have them sign up too.
Thanks for spending this timewith me today on the Plus One
Theory podcast.
Remember your past does notdefine you, it prepares you and

(09:24):
no matter where you are on theclimb, you don't have to start
over.
You can begin right where youleft off and finish stronger.
And when the hard moments come,remember this Pause.
Then take one more step,because there's always room for

(09:46):
a little more.
That's the heart of the plusone theory.
And now the pause, plus onemore.
I can't wait to share moreabout that with you in the
episodes ahead.
I'll see you next time andthanks for listening.