Episode 83: Permission to Pause with Karen Bartholomew

In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with coach, speaker, and founder of the PAUSE Method, Karen Bartholomew, for a powerful conversation about slowing down in a world that constantly pushes us to perform.Karen shares her deeply personal journey — from feeling invisible as a child, to becoming a high-achieving single mom running on empty, to finally reaching a breaking point that forced her to ask: Who am I beneath all of this doing?What followed was a courageous season of stepping back, unraveling old stories, and redesigning her life from the inside out. Out of that transformation came her 5-step PAUSE Method — a framework that helps women recognize patterns, untangle past conditioning, shift limiting narratives, and embody a new way of being.We talk about:🌿 The courage it takes to slow down🌿 Why we teach people how to treat us🌿 The difference between masculine striving and feminine receiving🌿 Letting go of relationships that no longer fit your season🌿 How to ask, “What do I need right now?” — and actually listen🌿 Why peace isn’t something you chase, but something you chooseKaren reminds us that slowing down isn’t falling behind — it’s catching up to who you were always meant to be.💛 Here are a few heart taps from this episode:1️⃣ You don’t need a crisis to deserve a pause.2️⃣ Slowing down is courageous — it means choosing truth over performance.3️⃣ We often live inside stories that are no longer true.4️⃣ Awareness is the first step to freedom.5️⃣ You can redesign your next chapter at any time.6️⃣ Peace isn’t something you earn — it’s something you choose.7️⃣ Ask yourself daily: Is this aligned with the life I’m creating?If you’ve been running on empty, managing everyone else’s needs, or craving space to simply breathe and be — this episode is your invitation to pause.Connect with Karen Bartholomew:Website: https://karenbartholomew.comInstagram & Facebook: @karenbartholomewLife-Tending Made Simple is On SaleLTMS is my foundational course built around my simple 5-step practice that’s designed to help you slow down, clear mental clutter, notice what’s really going on in your life, and intentionally tend to what matters most.It’s not about becoming perfect.It’s about becoming more aware, more rooted, and more intentional—one small step at a time.And for a limited time this summer, the course is on sale HERE.So if today’s conversation stirred something in you… this is a beautiful place to begin.CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual MasterclassTHIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs.Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass! Speaking OfAre you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: [email protected]’s Get ConnectedI want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that ...