In this episode, we explore the concept of pausing time to support the body’s natural healing rhythms, particularly in response to trauma, chronic symptoms, or overwhelm. We consider how stepping outside the usual pace of life—both metaphorically and physiologically—can create space for integration, resolution, and a return to clarity. Topics include the somatic language of stillness, the difference between collapse and rest, how “the pause” intersects with survival strategies, and the role of body-led timing in therapeutic or homeopathic interventions. Through real-world examples and lived experience, we reflect on what it means to pause intentionally, and how recognising the need for a “halt” can be a crucial part of navigating long-term healing.

1. The Pause as a Survival Strategy: The conversation opens with a discussion on the body’s instinct to pause—biologically and emotionally—when overwhelmed. Grant reflects on personal experiences of needing to “stop time” and how this urge might signal more than exhaustion.
2. Stillness, Safety, and Somatic Wisdom: Louise explains how stillness can be both a protective response and a healing tool. The pair discuss the difference between choosing stillness vs. being frozen, and how recognising that distinction helps guide therapeutic direction.
3. When Forward Momentum Feels Unsafe: we dive into the tension between survival-based drive (pushing forward) and the body’s deeper need to stop. They unpack how urgency, restlessness, or guilt often arise when the body attempts to hit pause.
4. Reframing Healing Timelines: we explore how healing often happens outside of linear time. They challenge the notion that pausing means “not progressing” and instead propose that stepping out of forward movement can itself be profound progress.
5. Navigating the Discomfort of Slowing Down: we conclude with a discussion of why stopping can feel intolerable, how modern life conditions us to equate stillness with failure, and the importance of cultivating a deeper trust in body-led timing.