The Pause Project
A workshop space that no one can really describe but that everybody really needs
The Pause Project is a month-long workshop about slowing down and connecting with yourself and your process.
Functionally, this workshop is pretty straightforward and simple: You’ve got your weekly group calls. You’ve got your self-chosen weekly projects, which is the central structure of the workshop, you’ve got your weekly 1:1 coaching calls with me, and you’ve got your worksheets and support materials.
But the real beauty and magic of this space, the part that is hard to describe, is when you, yes YOU, start to turn your attention inward and begin to notice your process. It’s when you start to make connections between your feelings and needs, and where you’re feeling stuck or like your life isn’t in alignment. It happens when you give yourself the space to get curious about YOU, and when you put your energy towards understanding yourself and your process.
This space is about slowness, intention and peeling back the layers to get to the root of things. We bring curiosity to how we live our lives, do our work, get things done, and move towards joy and self-care. The Pause Project Workshop has looked different for everybody. Some people focus on lifelong passion projects, others on new creative endeavors, others on foundational pieces of self-care and others on professional development.
The workshop creates an opportunity for reflection and the space for support from me and other workshop participants.
The next Pause Project Workshop session starts May 7th, 2024 and registration is NOW open. Click the button below to fill out an application for the May session:
Hi I am Camila- I am a certified Life Coach and I have been running the Pause Project Workshop since 2021. Dozens of participants have found so much grounding and healing in this space, and it is such a joy and privilege every time I get to show up in facilitation of a new Pause Project session.
This space, and this work, is my calling; if you feel called to the Pause Project I feel honored and excited to work with you.
Who is it for?
The Pause Project Workshop is for anyone interested in learning how they work and care for themselves, anyone interested in community and peer support, and who is feeling ready to inspect their habits, methods and motivations. This workshop is for anyone who is looking to feel grounded in their truest self.
What’s it like?
As the facilitator of this workshop, I hold space for your journey, engage with you in supportive conversation and problem-solving, all help guide and mirror your process. We also use the following tools:
Weekly Group Calls
Every week starts with a group call with all participants. During these calls we share in our experiences of the previous week and discuss the week to come. In these calls I also lead the group in discussion and in learning practices and tools to further support everyone in their individual practices.
One-On-One Coaching
All participants receive a weekly one-on-one coaching session with me. This is an opportunity for individualized support and attention to your weekly process and a time to discuss what's coming up for you and what kind of support you need.
Resources & Materials
Each week you also have access to worksheets and other materials to help with the structural component of the project.
4 Week Example
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Week 1: Explore What’s Possible
A lot of people start by experimenting; maybe they want to work on a specific type of project and this week is a testing opportunity to see if what they have in mind will work within this structure.
Examples of first week projects: tracking energy throughout the day, creating a daily movement practice, and finishing some oil paintings.
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Week 2: Take Action
Now you have more information: what was successful for week one and what wasn't. With this information you can better curate and schedule your week- in this week some people find that they are either setting their goals too high and out of reach, or aren't creating enough of a challenge for themselves.
Examples of second week projects: starting a comic, taking steps to file for work licenses, and cooking every meal of the week.
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Week 3: Rest & Reflect
Many participants found that around this time in the workshop they needed rest and time to integrate what they’re learning.
Week three projects have looked like taking a break, focusing on writing morning pages, and starting small and personal art projects.
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Week 4: Momentum
By now, a lot of participants find momentum and excitement. Many feel accomplished and ready to move their new practices forward into the next month. Final week projects have included making a six month study plan, putting finishing touches on a manuscript, and tying up loose ends from previous weeks.
Cost and Details:
There are 4 pricing options for the Pause Project Workshop: $125, $250, $500, $600. You are encouraged to choose the price that feels most aligned with your financial reality.
The May session of the Pause Project Workshop runs from May 7th to June 4th, with group calls every Tuesday of the month at 7pm pst/10pm est. Head to the application to learn more and to save your spot in the upcoming session-
What past participants are saying
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"ILLUMINATION is the word. And damn, it feels good."
It's difficult to give language to - but the Pause Project surprised me each week by taking me through the deeper layers of my process. It showed me that the process (any process I'm engaged in) starts at least two steps further back than where I was initially trying to start. It had me taking apart the groundwork and digging in the soil before building it all back up again. Camila is a pro and a genius and a genuine human who holds up a lantern. ILLUMINATION is the word. And damn, it feels good.
-January 2023 Participant
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"I discovered a way of being that feels true and authentic to who I am now"
During the Pause Project, I discovered that I felt most like myself when I slowed down and removed urgency from my days, tasks, and self-talk.
I got to practice this over the 4 weeks in work, play, and self-reflection. By the end, I discovered a way of being that feels true and authentic to who I am now, and how to integrate that into my daily life.
-J, OR
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"If you feel even just a slight and quiet "yes" to the idea of exploring the pause project - follow that yes. Some part of you needs this."
The Pause Project provided me with the much needed opportunity to, well, pause, and take a deep breath and reflect on how I was living my life. Over the course of the month I was able to consider what motivates and distracts me, whether and how I was resting, my creative process, and most importantly the kind and unkind ways I regarded myself. At the conclusion of the month I had developed a daily art practice that literally got me out of bed in the mornings, I was communicating more openly with those I love, and I was working my job in a way that felt sustainable. Camila would say at this point that I had all the tools within me, or in the words of Glinda the Good Witch, I "had the power all along" to create such positive change in my life. And sure, maybe I did, but I argue that with out Camila's steady guidance, openheartedness, and downright brilliant wisdom to know the exact right question and ask it at the exact right time, I would not have been able to find my way and use my tools and power to the extent that I did this month. If you feel even just a slight and quiet "yes" to the idea of exploring the pause project - follow that yes. Some part of you needs this.
-H.C.G, ME
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"It provided me with the space I didn't even realize I needed"
I would 110% recommend the Pause Project! It provided me with the space I didn't even realize I needed to pause and reflect and ultimately start on a path of making decisions that feel more supportive and aligned. Camila is so thoughtful and intuitive. Everything has been so well planned and the process is so healing. The workshop was so good the first time that I signed up to do it again! I see more Pause Projects in my future as they are so grounding and supportive!
- April 2022 Participant
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"There is no binary of 'productive' and 'unproductive' time"
During the Pause Project, I learned about including weeks of rest at natural intervals when building a project plan.
Other lessons from the month: there is no binary of 'productive' and 'unproductive' time, unlearning negative self-thought is cumulative, and saying yes to body needs is integral to creative process.
-E.B, OR
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"I've gained so much insight and feel so excited about taking what I've learned as I move forward.”
Camila is the most excellent and tender facilitator and coach. She helped me peel back so many layers and reflect in ways I never have. I've gained so much insight and feel so excited about taking what I've learned as I move forward.”
-January 2022 Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to do anything to get ready?
All you need to be ready for the workshop is the desire to learn about yourself and the curiosity to open yourself up to your own process. Some people come ready with the things they want to focus on for the month, others figure it out as they go along- I provide support and guidance through all the stages of preparedness.
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Can anyone participate?
This workshop is open to absolutely anyone no matter how they identify. The only thing that truly isn't acceptable in this space is bigotry, allegiance to any sort of perceived supremacy, and people who generally desire to be jerks. Jerks and bigots would probably be super bored anyway.
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How much time does it take?
There is no set amount of time required to dedicate to the workshop. The group calls generally last 1.5 hrs and the 1:1 coaching sessions are about 30-60 minutes. Aside from that, the minimum you probably want to dedicate to your weekly project is about an hour- that could be in one session, or broken down into 2 thirty minute sessions or 4 fifteen minute sessions. So you're looking at 3/3.5 hours as the least amount of time weekly for this workshop.
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How can I fit this into my busy life?
If you are feeling like you don't have an abundance of time to dedicate to this workshop, but still feel called to do it, consider asking the people in your life for support. It's possible your friends, family, and community could help out in creating space for you to engage in this form of self care.
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Can I participate if I work full time and/or have a kid?
This is a really good question and only one you can answer! The reality of our full and busy lives, with so many non-negotiable aspects, is extremely real and valid- I don't need to tell you that. As a parent and full time business owner myself, what I know to be true and valid is the need for all of us to find care for ourselves in order to better care for the rest of our lives. You can't fill up anyone else's cup if your cup is empty.
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Will I make friends?
A lot of people have found that they made really special connections with other people in the workshop! Many participants continue in communication long after their sessions.
About The Pause Project
This project came to me during a challenging time in December 2020
The city where I live was experiencing extremely high numbers of COVID-19 cases and in an effort to curb this increase the governor mandated a statewide "pause": we were asked to limit all social activity more strictly and intentionally for a month.
Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been finding motivation nearly impossible to muster up, but self-care has felt more important than ever. So I decided to take this pause time and turn inward to see what I could learn about where I was and what I was needing. I decided to mirror the structure of the statewide pause by diving deep on a self care project one week at a time, and I kept updates, documentation and progress reports up on my Instagram.
Working on this project helped me connect with myself, my friends, and my community. I learned so much about myself and how I give myself love and care, and through this process I found a certain alignment- an alignment within myself and what I see as my work in this world.