The Art of the Deliberate Pause
In a world built for speed, the slow burn of a cigar offers a rare chance to disconnect, think clearly, and be.
Ever Heard Me Say?
“A cigar helps you win the narrative”
Our lives are a series of sprints. We rush from one task to the next, filling every spare second with a podcast, a video, or a quick scroll through social media. We optimize our mornings, “power through” our afternoons, and plan our evenings for maximum efficiency. In this relentless race against the clock, we’ve forgotten how to stop. We’ve lost the art of the deliberate pause.
A good cigar is a rebellion against this culture of speed.
It’s an activity that cannot be rushed. It requires you to sit, be patient, and dedicate a solid chunk of time, an hour or more, to a single, focused experience. It’s not about the tobacco itself so much as what the ritual represents: a conscious decision to step out of the chaotic stream of modern life and find a moment of structured stillness.
An Analog Ritual in a Digital World
Enjoying a cigar is a fundamentally analogous process. It begins with a series of small, deliberate actions: selecting the right one, making a precise cut, carefully toasting the foot, and finally, taking that first draw. Each step requires your full attention. You can’t properly light a cigar while distracted by your phone; the ritual itself pulls you into the present moment.
Once lit, the cigar acts as a timer for a period of forced disconnection. For the next hour, your task is straightforward: sit, observe, and think. There are no notifications to check, no emails to answer. This creates a unique bubble of time, a sanctuary where the constant noise of the digital world fades into the background. It forces you to be alone with your thoughts. This state has become increasingly rare and, for some, even uncomfortable.
Where Great Ideas Find Their Spark
This dedicated time for reflection is not empty. When your mind is finally free from the constant flood of new information, it begins to wander in productive ways. This is the mental space where you can untangle a complex problem, see a situation from a new perspective, or have a sudden creative insight. The slow, evolving nature of a cigar mirrors the process of deep thought. As the flavors change from the first third to the last, so too can your ideas develop, grow and mature.
It’s no coincidence that many great thinkers, writers, and leaders were avid cigar smokers. For figures like Mark Twain and Winston Churchill, a cigar wasn’t just a habit; it was a companion for contemplation. It provided the framework for the kind of uninterrupted thinking that leads to breakthroughs. In that quiet space, surrounded by a fragrant haze, the mind is free to make the surprising connections that busyness stifles.
How to Embrace the Pause
You don’t have to be a seasoned cigar enthusiast to appreciate the benefits of this ritual. The key is to approach it with the right mindset. This isn’t about multitasking; it’s about “singletasking.”
The goal is the experience itself.
Why not, find a comfortable chair on a porch or in a quiet corner of your home. Put your phone on silent and leave it in another room. Focus on the sensory details: the texture of the wrapper, the aroma of the unlit tobacco, the sight of the smoke curling into the air.
Give attention to the flavors as they develop on your palate. Let your mind drift where it will. This isn’t about emptying your mind, but instead giving it the freedom to explore without a specific destination.
It’s a powerful, restorative practice disguised as a simple pleasure.
Ponder the flavors and tastes, chuckle to yourself about your imagination of flavors no mere mortal could detect.
Expound your mind and enjoy.
Let Me Ask YOU…
Beyond cigars, what is your go-to ritual for forcing yourself to slow down and truly disconnect?
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