Pause, Rest, Be by Octavia F. Raheem Summary
Overview of Pause, Rest, Be
In a chaotic world, "Pause, Rest, Be" offers radical medicine for life's transitions. This Gold Nautilus Award winner, featured in The New York Times, teaches restorative practices that influential wellness leaders call "ancestral wisdom." What hidden strength might you discover by simply learning to rest?
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Key takeaways
The Sacred Pause in a World That Never Stops
In a culture that glorifies perpetual motion, what if your exhaustion isn't weakness but wisdom? Octavia Raheem's journey toward embracing stillness began at her breaking point-during a hospitalization that became a forced pause. This wasn't a gentle awakening but a profound reckoning with the consequences of perpetual motion. How many of us continue pushing until our bodies simply refuse to go further? Through restorative yoga, Raheem discovered that true transformation happens not in constant movement but in conscious stillness. Drawing wisdom from ancient texts like the Shiva Sutras, she found that when we pause, we create space for wisdom to emerge from within. Think about those moments of clarity that arrive when you're in the shower or taking a walk-these insights don't come when we're frantically checking email or multitasking. The power of stillness challenges our cultural narrative that equates rest with laziness. What if, instead, we recognized rest as a revolutionary act? What if we understood that our capacity to contribute meaningfully to the world depends on our willingness to withdraw from it occasionally? This radical reframing isn't about escaping responsibility but about sustaining our ability to show up fully for our lives and for others.
Honoring Endings: The Courage to Let Go
The Fertile Void: Between What Was and What Will Be
Creating Your Sanctuary of Restoration
Embracing New Beginnings with Humility
Slowing Down to Feel Everything
The Courage to Begin Again, One Day at a Time
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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