All Episodes

May 13, 2025 17 mins

Send us a text

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.


SHOW NOTES:

Let's connect!

Linktree: [@sheridavidson | Linktree](https://linktr.ee/sheridavidson)

Join The Wellness Inspired community:
https://www.wellnessinspiredpodcast.com/newsletter
Facebook: [The Wellness Inspired Podcast - Home](https://www.facebook.com/wellnessinspiredpodcast)
Instagram: [Sheri Davidson, L.Ac. (@wellness_inspired) • Instagram photos and videos](https://www.instagram.com/wellness_inspired/)
LinkedIn: [Sheri Davidson - Chief Wellness Officer - Element 5 OM, Acupuncture + Wellness | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-davidson/)

Element 5, Acupuncture + Wellness
www.element5om.com
Facebook: [Element 5, Acupuncture + Wellness - Home](https://www.facebook.com/element5om/?ref=pages_you_manage)
Instagram: [Sheri Davidson (@element5_acuwell) on Instagram • 145 photos and videos](https://www.instagram.com/element5_acuwell/)
LinkIn: [Sheri Davidson - Chief Wellness Officer - Element 5 OM, Acupuncture + Wellness | LinkedIn](https://www.linke

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Hello, wellness adventurist, welcome back to
another episode of the wellnessinspired podcast, a place where
you can find inspiration,motivation and empowerment in
the pursuit of a wellnesslifestyle.
I'm your host, sherry Davidson.
I'm a wellness coach,acupuncturist, trail runner and
former interior designer inHouston, texas, and I am deeply

(00:40):
passionate about health andwellbeing.
And, as always, I'm here withmy co-host, finn, and if you're
new to the podcast, finn is myTerrier, mix Rescue Dog, trail
runner and loyal companion.
He is also a therapy dog andgreeter at Element 5,
acupuncture and Wellness.
And we have something specialfor you.

(01:08):
In our last episode, episode 79,wellness Travel Reset how
Intentional Trips SupportLong-Term Wellbeing.
We talked about the powerfulways intentional travel can
create space for reflection andlong-lasting wellness shifts.
Well, today we are going onelayer deeper, because sometimes
it's not just about resettingand recharging, because
sometimes it's not just aboutresetting and recharging, it's
about stopping the momentum thatis carrying us in the wrong

(01:29):
direction.
And that's what I'll be sharingwith you today the power of the
pause, what it means, why itmatters and how my recent
wellness river cruise becamemore than a getaway.
It became a long pause thathelped me release what wasn't
serving me and reclaim a clearer, steadier mindset, and it makes

(01:51):
me a little sad because at thispoint in the episode I would be
promoting the Wellness RiverCruise but I just got back from
it.
I have a lot to share from itand it makes me sad that I won't
be promoting it, but I am ontothe next.
I'm creating another one.
So whenever I get that together, I'll be back here promoting

(02:14):
the next wellness trip.
Okay, let's jump in.
We talk a lot about movingforward, about momentum,
progress, growth, but whathappens when the momentum itself

(02:38):
becomes the problem, when thepath you're on starts leading
you somewhere you no longer wantto 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 choosefor ourselves.
Usually, life forces it on usthrough burnout, illness or

(03:00):
moments where everything feelslike too much.
But what if we choose it?
Or moments where everythingfeels like too much, but what if
we choose it?
That was the intention I set formy recent wellness river cruise
to embrace the pause, to stopthe momentum, not just the
busyness, but the mental andemotional patterns that were
pulling me in a direction.
I didn't wanna continue and,let me be honest, this wasn't

(03:22):
something a good night's sleepcould fix.
I tried many times.
This wasn't something a goodnight's sleep could fix.
I tried many times.
Rest wasn't enough.
I needed something stronger.
I needed a long pause, and ittook time.
The first few days the oldpatterns kept showing up the
fear, worry, that sense ofrushing towards a future.
I didn't want of rushingtowards a future I didn't want,

(03:43):
but slowly, with quiet mornings,meditation and space to breathe
, the momentum began to slowuntil it stopped and in that
stillness, clarity emerged.
So today we are talking aboutthat pause, why it matters, how
it can change not just a trip ora season, but your entire

(04:07):
relationship with growth,resilience and change.
Before the trip, I askedeveryone on the Wellness River
Cruise to set an intention.
Like I said, mine was simplebut powerful to embrace the
pause, to stop the momentum thatwas no longer serving me, so I
could create peace and clarityand return with a new mindset.

(04:28):
What many people don't realizeis that momentum isn't always
positive.
It can be stress, worry, fear,and when it builds it can feel
like being swept down a riveryou no longer want to ride but
can't seem to get out, andthat's where I found myself
before the cruise.
Like many of you, I tried rest.

(04:49):
I tried little things goodsleep, meditation breaks in my
day.
But the momentum was too strong.
I needed more than a quickreset.
I needed what I now call a longpause, and that's what this
trip became for me.
But it didn't happen immediately.
The first few days the momentumfollowed me.

(05:09):
I woke up early with worry, thesame looping thoughts, emotions
, and at night I'd catch my mindrushing ahead or replaying the
past.
So I leaned into the practicesI know morning meditation,
stillness, breathing deeply, asI sat on the balcony of our room
watching the world float by,letting the movement of the

(05:32):
river remind me that momentumcan shift, but only when we stop
trying to force it.
By midweek, something startedto change.
The early wake-ups became lessfrequent, the fears and worries
started to lose their emotionalgrip and I felt myself returning
to a grounded, steady place.

(05:53):
The pause was working, notbecause I forced it, but because
I allowed it.
So why does the pause matter somuch?
Because without it, momentumtends to do what momentum does?
It keeps going, even when it'scarrying us somewhere we no
longer want to be.
Our nervous system cravespatterns, and once a pattern of

(06:17):
fear, overthinking or chronicstress sets in, it builds speed.
A weekend off won't always slowit down.
A single good night sleep won'talways stop it.
Sometimes it takes somethingbigger, a deliberate, spacious
pause to break the cycle.

(06:38):
And this is why wellness isn'tjust about doing more.
It's not always about the nextbiohack habit or productivity
tool.
It's about knowing when to stop, to interrupt the patterns that
no longer service, to step intothe space between what was and
what's next.
And this is what I love aboutwellness.

(06:58):
Travel done intentionally, it'snot an escape.
It's a conscious decision.
To pause intentionally, it'snot an escape.
It's a conscious decision topause, reflect and rest, to
create distance from the noiseand busyness of daily life so
you can hear yourself again.
On the river cruise, I saw thishappening, not just for me, but
for others too.
Each person had a differentreason for being there.

(07:20):
Some wanted rest, some soughtinspiration and some simply
wanted quiet, but all of us werein some way entering the pause,
and that space created theconditions for clarity, healing
and perspective to emerge.
And that's the beauty of thepause is that it doesn't look
the same for everyone, and onthis cruise I witnessed that

(07:43):
firsthand.
For me, it was the slowmornings on the balcony, coffee
in hand, watching the worlddrift by.
It was the stillness of thewater and the soft hum of the
boat reminding me not everymoment has to be filled.
One day I biked through thecity of Vienna, weaving past
grand architecture and along thevibrant artist canal where

(08:06):
street art told stories of thecity's creative pulse.
On another day, I rode throughthe countryside near Krems.
We passed blooming appleorchards and rolling vineyards,
eventually arriving in thequaint Austrian town of
Dernstein, with its cobblestonestreet and blue church tower
rising above the landscape.
Unlike my usual endurance ride,where speed and distance are the

(08:30):
focus, these rides weredifferent.
The pace was slower.
We stopped often to admire thescenery, take in the crisp
spring air and simply be in themoment.
And that small shift was apractice in embracing the pause
even while moving.
It wasn't about covering ground, it was about experiencing the

(08:52):
ground beneath me.
I also noticed how others on thetrip found their own pauses.
Some spent quiet hours reading,others chose solitude on deck
or deep conversations over localmills.
Others chose solitude on deckor deep conversations over local
mills.
One evening, a few of usgathered to share reflections,
not in a formal way, butorganically, as people often do

(09:12):
when they feel safe andunhurried.
And what stood out was thisEvery person, whether
consciously or not, was slowingthe momentum of their everyday
lives.
We were each reclaiming spacefor something we rarely give
ourselves time to reflectwithout the pressure to
immediately act.
These moments remind me thatpausing isn't just about

(09:34):
stopping.
It's about making room for theinsights and emotions that can't
surface when life is moving toofast, when the momentum is
going.
So here are some practicaltakeaways, because the truth is
not everyone can take a rivercruise or an extended trip when
they need a pause.
I totally get that, although Ihope you all come on my next

(09:57):
wellness trip I don't know ifit'll be a cruise, but I will do
a cruise again but there aresome things that we can do at
home to create moments ofstillness 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 tocreate your own pause, even in

(10:19):
the middle of a busy season,when you can't jump on a boat
for two weeks well, a week, okay.
So number one morning stillness.
So, instead of diving into yourphone or a to-do list.
Take five, 10, 15 quiet minuteseach morning.
Sit, breathe, let the day cometo you before you rush towards

(10:44):
it.
I do this every morning.
I actually do it before I getout of the bed.
I used to grab my phone becauseI 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 havestopped.
So now I take about five to 10minutes.
I breathe, I welcome the day in, I think about you, know what a

(11:10):
beautiful day it's going to be,and it's just a nice way to
start, to start my day.
Another thing that you can do isa midday nature break.
This is why I love trailrunning.
Obviously, I don't go trailrunning in the middle of the day
because I'm at work, but I dolive and work in a walkable area
, so sometimes Ben and I willstep outside, even if it's for a

(11:31):
few minutes.
Just notice the trees, theclouds, the sounds around you.
We've been in this area for solong.
We know a lot of the people whowork in the area, and so we
love just walking and waving topeople.
That's one of my favoritethings, but shifting your
environment, even briefly, caninterrupt mental momentum and

(11:54):
emotional momentum.
Okay, number three is eveningreflection.
So ask yourself what momentumam I carrying into tomorrow and
is it serving me?
Journaling or even a simplemental check-in can help you
release what's not needed.
And number five mindfulmovement.

(12:15):
So, whether it's a walk, yogaor even stretching I love yin
yoga Let it be about theexperience, not performance or
progress.
Just feel it.
And Finn speaks.
I'll give him some airtime, hedeserves it.
Okay, back to back on topic.

(12:36):
Uh, let's see.
Where were we?
Um, we were talking aboutmindful movement.
Um, yes, we were talking aboutwhen, uh, fear or worry loop
show up.
That's where we were.
So, yes, because theyinevitably will show up.
So meet them with curiosityrather than urgency.

(12:58):
At least that pause can beenough to prevent old patterns
from regaining that speed ormomentum.
You just slow that momentumdown a little bit.
Or momentum, you just slow thatmomentum down a little bit.
Okay, so I think the next parthere.

(13:22):
We're about to wrap it up, but Ijust want to invite you.
If you've been feeling theweight of your own momentum,
whether it's stress, worry orjust the relentless pace of life
.
I invite you to consider what apause might look like for you.
Not a vacation, not an escape aconscious pause.
So what does that look like foryou?
It could be a quiet morningritual, an intentional break
from over committing, or evenjoining a wellness travel

(13:46):
experience like mine, where thespace to reset and reflect is
built right into the design.
If this idea of pausing andreclaiming your clarity
resonates with you, I'd love toconnect.
You can learn more about mycoaching or future wellness
travel experiences at my websitewellness inspired podcast, or
just reach out directly, just DMme.

(14:08):
Sometimes, the first step tocreating new momentum is simply
recognizing that you are readyto stop the old one.
So, as we wrap up today'sconversation, I want to leave
you with this thought the pauseisn't where progress ends, it's
where clarity begins.
When we stop the momentum thatno longer serves us, even

(14:28):
briefly, we create the space fornew perspectives, new choices
and new energy to emerge,whether it's through wellness
travel, a morning of stillnessor simply choosing to say no to
what drains.
You remember, the pause is notpassive.
It's an active, courageousdecision to stop moving in the
wrong direction so you candiscover what's next.

(14:51):
Thank you for sharing the spacewith me today and if this
episode resonated with you, feelfree to reach out, share your
reflections or leave a review.
It helps me continue thesemeaningful conversations with
you.
So until next time, keepexploring, keep discovering and
remember the most importantmomentum is the one you choose.

(15:22):
If you like what you hear,please subscribe to the podcast
and share with your family andfriends.
You can also give me a ratingand review.
Wherever you listen to yourpodcast, it helps others find me
as well.
To get updates on new episodesand wellness inspiration in your
inbox, please join the wellnessinspired community.
Go to the wellness inspiredpodcastcom to sign up.
I'll put the link to thewebsite in the show notes so you

(15:44):
can click and join.
Also, there's a Facebookcommunity at the wellness
inspired and you can follow meon Instagram at wellness
underscore inspired.
If you're in the Houston area orjust visiting and interested in
our services acupuncture,herbal medicine, cupping,
zinchiatsu or dry needlingtherapy contact us.
You can find out more on ourwebsite at element5omcom.

(16:06):
That's element5, the numberfive omcom, and again I'll put
the link in the show notes.
If you're interested in healthand wellness coaching, we can
connect in the clinic or on zoom.
Reach out to us and we'll getyou on the schedule and, as
always, I would love to hearyour feedback.
I am dedicated to bringing yougreat content that is inspiring
and informative, with an artsy,fun, edgy spin.

(16:28):
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll meet here again next timeand remember never stop
exploring, learning, loving andbeing you.
Bye.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.