BLOG 501 TAKING BREAKS
Sometimes
in life we decide to take a break from activities, people, places, and things. This
is taking a pause which means not being involved with something/someone for a
period. A break means you will return to the activity, person, place, or thing
that you took the break from. This is opposed to stopping and not returning which
would be a “break up”. A break can be a dangerous decision when there is not a definite
return date. Having a vague or approximate return date leaves room for
procrastination, distraction, and taking part in alternatives choices (good or
bad). There are several reasons a person might choose to take a break from something
or someone.
Feeling a
sense of burnout can influence the decision to take a break. You could feel like
all your time, energy, and focus is on this one thing or person. The all-consuming
pressure to uphold what is currently happening is difficult to imagine sustaining
for the projected future. The thing or person has caused missing out on other parts
of life that you desire to include. There isn’t a balance anymore. You want to
test what it would feel like without the presence of the thing or person in
your life. You have not decided to fully subtract or end this part of your life,
but the readiness or attachment isn’t one hundred percent clear to you. Finances
can be part of this. Maybe the cost is impactful, so you want to try to save
the expense for a time.
Being able
to do something on your own without the thing or person can be a factor. For
example, you want to see if you would be okay single for a time. You want to
see if you can exercise by yourself for a time. You want to see if you like something/someone
better. The comparison can take place during a break. Pros and cons can be
measured. Alternatives can be investigated.
A break is
trying something without that thing or person/people for an allotted time. This
might be 30 days of no alcohol. This could be 5 months of leave from work. Breaks
can be set for a time. When there is not a set time, a break can be for however
long and sometimes that break leads to a non-return. The term break can also
ease the blow or termination. For example, rather than end a relationship, you
take a break.
Sometimes taking
a break can be self-destructive. You take a break from working out, maybe for a
vacation. Then you must motivate yourself as you tell yourself when you are
going to start again and actually follow through. You can leave something or
someone up in the air about your return, so the break can be selfish because of
your indecision. On the other hand, you could have no intention of returning and
out of fear or ease, you just don’t want to tell that place/person you aren’t coming
back.
The bottom
line is that a break can be both good and bad. It can be eye-opening or self-sabotage.
It can be shorter or longer than you thought. It can be forever. It can be an
excuse or lie or out of avoidance. If you have ever been on the receiving end
of a relationship when someone says they want a break, you are well aware of
the uncertainty in the air. The “stay tuned” or “to be continued” makes a break
unclear. Sometimes waiting to see what happens puts life in a place where confidence
in truth is tested. “Be careful or it will break”, may be the sign of caution
we need when it comes to taking breaks.
