When Life Forced Him to Slow Down

A Pause That Forced Reflection

A few weeks ago, I sat across from one of my clients, a driven professional whose schedule was always full, whose goals seemed endless. But that day, his voice was softer. He had just returned from the hospital after a brief illness that caught him off guard. For the first time in years, he was forced to stop.

He told me how strange it felt to be on the other side of care, lying in a hospital bed, listening to machines and footsteps. “I thought I was tired,” he said. “My body had been speaking, and I wasn’t listening.” His realization held weight that many never reach until life forces them to pause. As Gandhi said, “It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver.”

When Strength Means Allowing Yourself to Surrender

He spoke about how hard it was to accept weakness. “I’ve always been the strong one,” he said. “But when I couldn’t stand on my own, I learned strength sometimes means surrender.” I reminded him of Mandela’s words, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell and got back up.” Illness didn’t break him. It slowed him down so he could see life clearly.

Redefining Success Through Recovery

As he healed, he talked about friends and family who visited, the prayers that lifted him, and the silence that taught him patience. He started journaling again, reconnecting with faith, and rethinking how he measured success. He found comfort in Paul’s reminder in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

He learned from each moment. The visits. The stillness. The prayers. They shaped his recovery, helped him slow down, and guided him back to what mattered most.

Renewal Born From Slowing Down

When he left my office, his steps were slower, not from weakness but from wisdom. He learned what many ignore until life demands pause. Sometimes your pause is not your end. It is the beginning of renewal.

For counseling or prayer, contact Dr. David Rex Orgen at 614-753-3925.

Written by Dr. David Rex Orgen, Best-Selling Author and International Mental Health Expert