In Gary Gach’s book, “Pause, Breathe, Smile: awakening mindfulness when meditation is not enough,” Gach wrote:

“Pause and look within. Is our goal in life only to satisfy our immediate desires? Is it all just entertainment? Are we here only to cultivate an image? Are we only sleepwalking through it all, or are we awake? Many of us have at least tasted our capacity for dignity and beauty, our ability to be totally aligned with our highest potential. But glimpses come and go. For them to become commonplace, we need to learn self-discipline. And we can master that well – through pausing. This isn’t rocket science. When we take a conscious breath, we’re already pausing. And we’re grounding ourselves in the here and now. We can listen to our heart, and set clear intentions. Considering the potential impact of our thought, our words, our deeds, we might choose inhibition or direction. The door is always open. It’s up to us. With a smile, breathing easy, we get better at being human. We become good people. The universe opens up in silent applause when we take the leap to learn to pause. “

Gach’s questions are profoundly insightful and deserve deep reflection and meaningful responses. Just as our cars require regular servicing, we, too, need to take the time to pause, examine, and transform our lives.