Pause as you gnaw.

Everything can feel fast-paced, pressuring, and instantaneously achieved.

Self-reflection can be lumped into that pile.

While surfing social media, I came across an adorable video of a beaver gnawing at a tree. In this display of nature, I saw this little guy whittling at the bark, like we whittle at an apple, the critter occasionally stopped, looked around, and then resumed the activity. It was taking its time. There was no rushing. No deadline.

The nature video mentioned how this activity is normal. In fact, beavers frequently pause during their tree-gnawing, not because they are taking time to smell the roses or be philosophical, but because they are practically assessing, trying to ascertain which direction the tree they are working on will fall.

It’s a safety, self-preservation thing.

Hey, don’t get pinned by a tree!

We can learn a thing or two from these fuzzy, long-toothed creatures. Self-reflection, and taking time to pause, can be a part of that lesson.

First, choose your tree.

The beaver doesn’t tackle the entire forest or clearing at once.

One tree at a time.

What issue do we want to tackle first, here and now? We can’t deal with everything, even if multiple things are occurring. But we can zoom in on one thing. What is that?

The concept of multi-tasking is a fallacy. We may believe ourselves to be more productive by dealing with multiple things at once, but research on the brain, in fact, states otherwise. We’re just more scattered and distracted, doing multiple things less well.

There is power in focus. And, when we’re gnawing on every tree, there is an absence of focus. From a tree context, distraction can be deadly. We are not pausing adequately.

Therefore, timber! Each multi-tasking tree falls on us.

One thing. One tree.

Take your first bite.

Commit to it. Intention. Behavior.

We can get paralyzed, as we are intimidated about the start of a “project.” We want it accomplished perfectly, so we don’t start gnawing away at it.

We need to identify… and then start.

Start with a ridiculous start. Start with a pathetic start. But start.

Each beaver in the wild needs to take that first gnawing bite of their selected tree. No beaver just accidentally starts chewing on a tree. They decide.

“I’m going to whittle this down to a toothpick; I have goals.”

I don’t know how many of these critters are apprehensive, intimidated by a tree, and filled with self-doubt. They are animals, wild animals, operating on instinct.

But they somehow know they need to act. Dams need to be built; teeth need to be maintained. Whatever.

Bite, then. Take deliberate action.

Do it afraid, if need be.

Whittle steadily.

Little Bob, the beaver, goes about his business in nature. Working on a tree, there is no rush. This little guy knows he needs to work steadily.

This is the cliché stuff we need to embrace. Keep at it. Keep going. Finish what you start.

And we need patience.

This is not an instantaneous situation. It’s a process. Laborious. Tedious. Sometimes, boring. But keep gnawing.

Eventually, the tree will fall.

Look, Listen, and Pause.

And while we are about the tree-gnawing process, it’s important to do these three things.

Look, Listen, and Pause.

Our little beaver guy accesses things, intermittently looking around, especially concerning which direction the tree is going to fall, while listening to the sounds around him.

And these actions require that he pauses.

We need to use our senses, in life and within our own self-reflection paces.

Things to ask ourselves…

What am I seeing here?

What are people and the cues around me trying to tell me?

Who or what is rushing me?

We don’t just go through life, work, relationships, and goals, on automatic pilot.

What is driving or influencing us? Is it a positive or a negative force?

Beaver Dude knows, instinctively, to pay attention to his incoming sensory messages, and to the environment that surrounds him. All are critical to not getting squashed by a tree, unaware.

Beaver Dude is aware and will not be rushed as he goes about his routine.

Make room, as the tree falls.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Still more questions need to be asked, even as we’re aware of our surroundings and any pertinent trees.

What will this mean?

What is personal about this action?

What is healing/helpful about this action?

What is damaging about this action?

“Count the cost.”

Thoughtful gnawing is key. Self-reflection often considers future consequences. As we choose the tree, make our first moves, commit, and assess the status of our lives, “counting the cost” recognizes that our choices will affect some form of change and response.

We can’t control everything and every outcome, we can but go in, with eyes open to the fact that, yes, trees are going to fall. It’s reality.

Consequences.

Also known as “fallout.”

Pause and consider.

We are encouraged to pause throughout whatever we’re doing in life. We ‘re encouraged to be thoughtful and deliberate. Intentional.

And, of course, we are encouraged to make healthy, wise decisions.

To do that, we need to be familiar with the practice of pausing.

Whatever it is you are doing, just stop for a bit.

Stop the gnawing. Assess yourself.

What do you find?

Reflect… and then, if need be, resume working on your tree.

Copyright © 2024 by Sheryle Cruse