Pause

My Secret to Calmer Skin? It Starts with a Sacred Pause

Hey everyone, I wanted to chat with you about something that’s been on my mind—and honestly, something that has been a huge part of my life over the last year. Sometimes skincare is about what’s on the inside, not just the surface. It’s a truth I’ve seen firsthand, and it’s why I want to share how our mental health, and a practice called the Sacred Pause, have changed my own experience.

What Does Stress Have to Do With Your Skin, Anyway?

You’ve probably noticed how stress just seems to affect everything. When our lives get a little heavy, our skin can get a little angry. I’m not a doctor, but you don’t need a medical degree to see the connection between how you feel on the inside and how your skin looks on the outside. It’s a truth I’ve seen in my own life and in the lives of those around me. When our internal world is in turmoil, our skin often shows it.

Finding My Tool: The Sacred Pause

Because of this, I’ve been trying to be way more intentional about my mental health. One of the most helpful things I’ve found on this journey is a practice called Sacred Pause. If you don’t already listen to her podcast, you should check out Dr. Thema Bryant. I find her so relatable because she talks about mental health, spirituality, and faith in a way that shows they’re all interconnected. Dr. Bryant talks often about a moment of Sacred Pause in many scenarios—how to use it on the go and in the moment to recenter yourself and other ways to find a moment of clarity and calm as life happens.

The Sacred Pause has been a game-changer for me. It gives me a moment to stop and realize what my body is trying to tell me—that I’m frowning, that my shoulders are tense, and that I need to breathe and take stock of what’s around me. It’s a moment to pause for me. I can’t control what happens to me throughout the day, but I can hit pause to find the best way to respond. As well as help my mind and body process it.

How I Apply the Sacred Pause to My Skincare Routine

This mindful approach transforms my (almost) daily skincare routine from a chore into a moment of intentional self-care. It doesn’t just calm my mind; it also helps to calm my body’s stress response, which has a huge impact on my skin. Here’s what that looks like for me:

• Mindful Application: Instead of just slapping on products, I take the time to mindfully massage them in. While my 20-year-old does this daily with her face routine. I’m just not that person. So for me, it is taking extra time to really massage our Magnificent Magnesium Lotion into my feet. Nope, I don’t remember to do it every night. That’s ok, I’m learning to be gentle with myself :), you should too.
• Setting an Intention: I’ll start by setting a clear intention. It might be something simple, like a desire to nourish my skin, or to just let go of the day’s stress. With my feet, my intention is getting them to relax arch to arch, toe by toe, so they won’t cramp while sleeping. (Note: Ya’ll I really dislike feet, so I can’t believe I’m talking about mine with you)

• Sensory Experience: I try to engage all my senses. I’ll focus on the aroma of my products, the texture as I apply them, and the thickness of the cream as it absorbs into my skin. However, when I’m feeling dysregulated, I often opt for unscented products to aid me in my regulation. Sometimes even a calming aroma has the unintended effect of overstimulating me.
• Connecting with Myself: Ultimately, this skincare routine is a space to check in with myself. It’s a moment to listen to my body, acknowledge how I’m feeling, and practice a little self-love and slow down.

By integrating the Sacred Pause into your lifestyle and skincare, you’re not just caring for your skin’s surface; you’re also nourishing your mind, body, and spirit.

My Personal Reminder: Sacred Pause Products

Here’s the thing, while I’m writing a post about the concept of Sacred Pause. I don’t for one second want to give the impression that I have mastered this concept and that I am all Yoda-ish when things come up in life. It’s a practice that I am working on integrating into my lifestyle.

As a mom with teen girls in the house, there are times when I have to say out loud, “Hold up, I need a moment of Sacred Pause,” Or if they are at each other’s throat and drag me into it, I’ll ask them, “Do you need a moment of Sacred Pause?” Now I’m sure you can imagine how that might go over. However, I don’t need them to do it right then, actually, I do. But if they don’t, I want them to at least hear the language in those moments so they know there are tools available, even if they can’t/won’t access them right then.

Finally, what has come out of my journey is the manifestation of products. Many of you are already familiar with our Mindful Shower Sugar Scrubs, an earlier iteration of a similar self-care routine. Products that I am intentional when naming because they have a deeper meaning than just to clean or exfoliate. The same thing happened with Sacred Pause.

Well, as always, I hope this post spreads awareness about ways we can help each other through sharing our journeys. If you have any tools to add, feel free to share them in the comments below. “Like” the post if you learned anything new. Be sure to join our site so that you are aware of new posts. Also, joining our site gets you a promo code for a special discount on your skin care first order!

Always remember, You Deserve a Little Self-Care Every Day!
Camille
~Hazel’s Soapery

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