The Power of the Pause: Why 10 Seconds Can Change Everything
What if the most powerful thing you could do this week took just ten seconds?
This Spark Me episode is a reflective conversation inspired by last week’s powerful discussion with Stacey Fritz — and by a week that, as Michele puts it, “was a week.” Liz and Michele unpack the idea that life’s challenges come in waves, and while we can’t stop them from coming, we can choose how we meet them.
At the center of this conversation is the power of the pause — both literal and metaphorical. From breathwork that regulates the nervous system to pausing before sending an email, responding to a text, or reacting in anger, Liz and Michele explore how a micro pause can dramatically change outcomes in our relationships, our work, and our inner lives.
The conversation widens to reflect on the world at large — a culture living in the “inhale,” marked by overwhelm, fear, and division. Rather than ignoring real problems, Liz and Michele make the case for clarity over reactivity, reminding us that anger clouds judgment, while pause creates space for better decisions and meaningful action.
They also revisit Stacey Fritz’s journey as an inventor and entrepreneur, reflecting on what separates ideas that stay ideas from those that become reality: purpose, resolve, and the willingness to see something through even when it’s hard. It’s a conversation about breath, tenacity, grief, creativity, and the quiet strength found in slowing down — even when everything feels urgent.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Why “the power of the pause” is both a literal breathing practice and a life skill
How a 10-second micro pause can shift emotional reactions into thoughtful responses
Simple breath techniques that help regulate anxiety and overwhelm
Why reacting in anger almost never leads to better outcomes
How pausing improves clarity, decision-making, and communication
What it takes to move from an idea to execution — and why purpose matters
How grief, creativity, and service can coexist
Why the world — and each of us — may be living in the inhale right now
Stacey Fritz episode (Vita Ball & nervous system regulation)
Believe Big (shared during the Stacey Fritz conversation)
Breathwork techniques referenced from neuroscience research
Resources
- vidaBALL – A guided breathing tool Stacy created to help people regulate their nervous systems in under two minutes - https://thevidaball.com
Code: CHRISTINE (save $19.00) - Believe Big – A nonprofit supporting individuals and families navigating cancer through integrative and conventional care - https://believebig.org
- Huberman Lab Episode on Breathwork - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4m_PdFbu-s
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