There is a profound grace that can be found in a forced stop. We often spend our lives running - from our responsibilities, from our fears, and ultimately, from ourselves. It usually takes a moment of total stillness to realize that we aren't actually heading anywhere; we are simply escaping the "Now."
I recently watched a video of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reflecting on the COVID-19 lockdowns. He spoke about how that period of global containment acted as a necessary pause button. It allowed him to meditate, to reconnect with himself, and to reach out to an old friend he hadn't spoken to in a decade. That friend was struggling, and through that re-established bond, Dwayne was able to change his friend's life forever.
It made me look back at my own transformation, which began not with a global event, but with a personal physical collapse.
Just before the world shut down, I ruptured my Achilles tendon. I went from being active to being completely immobile, stuck in my flat for a nine-month recovery. At that time, I was directionless. I was drinking heavily, even while on strong post-operative medication. I was numbing the physical pain, but more than that, I was numbing the spiritual void.
Then, the lockdown hit.
The world outside became as still as I was forced to be inside. With nowhere to run and no distractions to hide behind, I was forced to face the man in the mirror. I started to ask myself: “What if I just stopped? What if I let the alcohol go?”
That pause became my sanctuary. I started reading, meditating, and praying. I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since. I am far from perfect, and I still have much to learn, but that moment was the dawn of my awakening.
As Eckhart Tolle often teaches:
"Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment."
I began to understand that I am not my thoughts; I am not my feelings. Those are just clouds passing through the sky. I am the sky itself. I am consciousness.
Today, I am in a much deeper place spiritually. I’ve realized that I don't need to worry about the future because I have placed my faith in something much greater than my own ego. I understand now what it means when we say the "Kingdom of God is within you."
Mooji captures this essence perfectly:
"Step into the fire of self-discovery. This fire will not burn you, it will only burn what you are not."
By pausing, I burned away the version of myself that relied on a bottle. I discovered Christ-consciousness - the realization that we are part of a divine, infinite presence. When you align with that presence, you stop trying to "fix" your life and instead allow life to flow through you.
If you feel lost, directionless, or overwhelmed by the noise of the world, the secret isn't to work harder or run faster. The secret is to pause.
The most powerful meditation isn't a complex ritual; it is simply being.
Watch your thoughts without judging them.
Notice your inner vibrations.
Observe the things in you that usually go unnoticed.
Realize that the mind never stops talking, but You are the one listening.
As Alan Watts said:
"Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone."
Stop stirring the water. Sit in the stillness. Have deep faith in the Divine. When you finally stop fighting the current and simply exist in the presence of God, watch how quickly your life begins to transform.
The pause isn't a waste of time - it’s where your real life begins.