Episode 45 | Pause To Protect The Dream

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We share why pausing a dream is not failure but a strategy to protect it, and how to step back without starting over. With personal stories, a clear framework, and real talk on money, trust, and timing, we map a path to recover, regroup, and return stronger.

• reframing pause as preparation, not quitting
• naming the hard truth of empty tills and fatigue
• choosing a nine to five to protect the dream
• spotting red flags and trusting your gut
• practicing discernment to avoid costly detours
• a written audit of reality and drains
• a simple plan to shift resources and recover
• building support and guarding energy
• returning with focus right where you left off

If my message has ever encouraged you, if you found yourself nodding along or thinking differently because of something I've shared, I want to hear from you. I need to hear from you. Send me an email. Let me know. I promise I'll keep sharing my writing and encouragement directly with you.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:08):
Welcome back to the Plus One Theory Podcast, where
we talk about resilience,growth, and finishing stronger
than you started.
I'm Pam Dwyer, and if you'veever felt like life has knocked
the wind out of you, you are inthe right place.
Today's episode is a littledifferent.

(00:30):
It's personal because I'm in oneof those seasons where
everything I've been workingfor, the podcast, the short
stories, the book, the speaking,it's all beautiful, but it
hasn't produced enough to keeppouring into it the way I've
been pouring into it.

(00:50):
So, what do you do when thedream feels heavy?
When you've invested so much,but the till is empty.
You don't quit.
You don't start over, you pause.
And that's what I want to sharewith you today.
The power of the pause.

(01:11):
How it can protect your dreams,prepare you for what's next, and
give you permission to breathe,regroup, and come back stronger
than ever.
So if you're ready for some realtalk, a little bit of humor and
a whole lot of encouragement,let's dive in.

(01:31):
Have you ever chased a dream sohard, poured money into it,
poured your heart into it,stayed up late, woke up early,
done everything the experts saidto do, and at some point looked
around and thought, well, thatwas a fun little detour to an

(01:52):
empty wallet.
That's where I am right now.
But listen, I'm not quitting.
This isn't the end of my dream.
It's just a pause.
And the pause, that's where themagic happens.
Today I want to talk about whatit means to pause when things

(02:15):
aren't working, how to staypositive when reality doesn't
match the dream, and how to keepmoving forward, even if forward
means stepping back for a littlewhile.
Because here's what I believewith my whole heart.
You never have to start over.
You just pause long enough torecover, and then you begin

(02:39):
again, right where you left off.
My podcast, I love it.
I believe in it.
But right now, I may need topause it.
My short stories, they bring mejoy to write them, but I may
need to pause them too.

(03:01):
Even my speaking, which has hadsome beautiful opportunities,
hasn't turned into consistentincome yet.
And here's the truth the till isempty.
The work I've done hasn't yetproduced enough to refill it.
And to avoid financiallydestroying my life, I have to

(03:22):
regroup.
So, yes, that means steppinginto a steady nine to five job
for a while.
And let me tell you, nothingmakes you appreciate your dream
like sitting under fluorescentlights in a job you didn't want.
Can I get an Amen?
But here's the shift inperspective.

(03:44):
This isn't failure.
This is just a pause.
When you're hungry for yourdream, people notice, and it's
not always the right people.
I have invested in things thatdidn't move me forward.
I've trusted folks who seemedquite genuine, only to realize

(04:07):
later they were more interestedin what they could get from me
than what they could give.
And here's the kicker.
Some of them are really good atit.
They look like they want toconnect, but really they want
something from you.
I've learned to trust my gut.
That little nudge inside thatsays, hmm, something doesn't

(04:31):
feel quite right.
And when I ignore it, well,let's just say my credit card
statement makes sure that Ilearn the lesson anyway.
I try not to grow bitter aboutit, and honestly, it's hard
sometimes.
But I remind myself they'retrying to make a living too.

(04:54):
It doesn't excuse it, but ithelps me let it go.
And that, right there, is thegift of the pause.
It teaches you discernment,wisdom, who to trust, who to
avoid, and how to protect yourdream.
So let's come back to this ideaof pausing.

(05:17):
The pause is not giving up, andthe pause is not starting over.
Think of it like Netflix.
When you hit pause to grab asnack, you don't restart the
whole series.
You pick up right where you leftoff.
That's what the pause does foryour dream.
I've thought things werehopeless before.

(05:39):
I've stressed, worried, lostsleep, and you know what?
None of that changed theoutcome.
The pause.
Well, that's where the changehappens.
Because the pause isn'tpunishment, the pause is
preparation.
It's space to breathe, to clearyour head, to regroup, to get

(06:04):
stronger.
When I'm in this season, I leanon my faith.
I lean on my purpose, and I makesure to surround myself with
people who actually want tohelp, not just sell me
something.
And then I give it time.
Because everything worth doingtakes time.

(06:26):
And sometimes the most powerfulthing you can do for your dream
is step back, regroup, and lettime work in your favor.
If you're in a season like this,here's what I want you to try.
Write down where you areexactly.
No sugar coating.

(06:48):
Name what needs to change,what's missing, what's draining
you.
And finally, decide what you cando right now.
That might be pausing.
It might be shifting resources.
And it might be saying yes to anine-to-five while your dream
waits.

And here's the key (07:07):
pausing doesn't erase the dream.
Pausing protects the dream.
It gives it a chance to grow inthe future.
So if you're listening today andyou feel like me, like you've
run out of options, like yourtill is empty, like the dream

(07:29):
has stalled, please hear me whenI say, you're not failing.
You're pausing.
You don't have to start over.
You don't have to quit.
You just pause long enough torecover.
And then you begin again, rightwhere you left off.

(07:50):
As you've heard me say before,your past doesn't define you.
It prepares you.
And this pause, it's preparingyou too.
Now here's something I need fromyou.
If my message has everencouraged you, if you found
yourself nodding along orthinking differently because of

(08:11):
something I've shared, I want tohear from you.
I need to hear from you.
Send me an email.
Let me know.
I promise I'll keep sharing mywriting and encouragement
directly with you.
Even while I pause some of thebigger projects I've been
working on.
Because I need to know who I'mreaching, who I'm helping, who

(08:36):
my people are, and who I'mgrowing with.
You matter.
And your voice lets me know thismessage matters to you.
So pause the dream, pay thebills, catch your breath, and
when the time is right, you canhit play again.

(08:57):
Just like I'm going to do.
Because your story isn't over.
It's just paused.
And if you need me while I'mpaused, you know where to find
me.