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2 weeks ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
Avery in 2020, one year before the music stoppedWhen you get to the other side of a difficult life event, rarely do you experience a singular moment where you can fully recognize all that you’ve overcome. Or maybe that moment happens, but it is missed in all the distractions of life. Because I’ve been diligently Planting Pauses throughout a tumultuous spr…
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4 weeks ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
One of my all-time favorite pictures of Avery, who reminds me a lot of Little RachI didn’t second-guess myself before sticking my hand in the fountain. I was out for a walk in an unfamiliar place when the shimmery, flowing water caught my eye. “Go ahead. Rest your hand here,” the soothing sound seemed to say. “Let the cool water softly flow over your hand…
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1 month ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
Dear ones,It brings me joy to provide you with this recording of last night’s treehouse teaching. Thank you to those who were able to be with me live and offered such positive feedback at the end. I went to sleep feeling like I’d helped in some small way, and that fills me with peace and gratitude.
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1 month ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
“Focused presence allows our own heart to become a map, guiding our purpose and giving us definitive direction to find answers to hard questions:What is this situation trying to teach me? What is my purpose here? How can I turn this into an opportunity for growth?
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1 month ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
Sadness was on me yesterday, so I planted a pause. My “soil” was a stack of greeting cards and colorful pens and pencils. I chose this soil purposely, which I will explain in a moment. But first, I need to tell you why sadness was weighing me down.
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1 month ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
🌱 I am delighted to hear from readers that the Plant a Pause series has created a bit of peace in your bodies and in your homes. Before the next edition, I wanted to share the life-changing advice that inspired this healing practice. If you are facing a difficult decision in your life, may today’s essay offer clarity and comfort.
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1 month ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
🌷Today’s video + essay is part of a special spring series I am doing here at Rachel’s Treehouse called, Plant a Pause. This series is designed to inspire a simple, soothing way to grow presence, self-awareness, and healing in a climate of chaos, information overload, and despair. In addition to sharing audio, video, and written messages from my heart over the next 2 months, I’m looking forward to learning from you and seeing what blooms through our collective efforts.
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2 months ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
Two weeks ago, I started planting pauses in my day. I planted a pause when I felt anxious. I planted a pause when I felt scared. I planted a pause when I felt overwhelmed. I planted a pause when I felt grateful. Planting a pause meant using my hands to dig into whatever “soil” was available to me and immerse myself in the task. My soil was a bin of soapy dishwater. My soil was my cat’s fluffy belly. My soil was a basket of clean socks that needed pairing.
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2 months ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
As I was picking out a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates for Avery, I reflected on the times I have opened a similar heart-shaped box. How the smell of chocolate filled my nose. How I studied each piece intently before making my selection. How my mouth watered as I bit into the succulent confection. A seemingly simple Valentine’s Day ritual has brought me great joy over the years.
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2 months ago | 
rachelmacystafford.substack.com | Rachel Stafford
My best friend from childhood, Kerry – who is now a licensed therapist – taught me I could lessen a fear by speaking it. I tried it the first time at a retreat I was leading in 2022, and then again in 2023 during a group meeting for dog walking volunteers. In both situations, I had a fear that was creating an obstacle to me getting the most out of the experience. My vulnerable admission to the members in these groups not only alleviated the fear but also opened pathways for connection.