If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly juggling too much — meetings, deadlines, emails, family obligations — you’re not alone. As working moms in the accounting profession, it’s easy to find ourselves operating in survival mode, just trying to get through the day. But what if the very thing that feels impossible — stopping — is actually the first step toward clarity?
In a recent CPA MOMS podcast episode, Mayumi Young, founder of CPA MOMS, shared a concept that can be truly life-changing: the personal pattern interrupt. It’s a tool that invites you to hit pause, take a breath, and redirect your energy toward something far more intentional and aligned with who you really are.
Here’s why that small act of stopping can lead to your biggest breakthroughs.
The Warning Signs We Ignore
Overwhelm doesn’t always show up with flashing red lights. Sometimes, it sneaks in as chronic fatigue. Or a persistent sense of dissatisfaction. Or that nagging thought, “I worked so hard to get here… why doesn’t this feel right?”
The truth is, many accountants are operating on autopilot. We’re trained to be efficient, productive, and reliable. But no one taught us how to pause and ask, “Is this what I truly want?”
That’s where a personal pattern interrupt comes in. It gives you permission to step out of the grind long enough to hear yourself think again.
What Is a Pattern Interrupt?
A pattern interrupt is exactly what it sounds like: something that breaks the current cycle you’re stuck in. It could be as small as a 15-minute walk outside or as bold as canceling all your meetings for the day. It doesn’t require weeks of planning or a major life overhaul. It simply requires intention.
As Mayumi shared, “You can’t move out of the pattern or the challenge you’re in with the same thinking that got you there to begin with.” That means you need a reset. Not tomorrow. Not next quarter. Right now.
Why It Works
The power of a pattern interrupt lies in its ability to wake you up from autopilot. When we pause, even briefly, we create mental and emotional space. We step back into the driver’s seat of our own lives. And from there, we can begin to ask the deeper questions:
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What do I actually value?
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What does success look like for me?
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What kind of life do I want to create?
These questions may not have immediate answers. That’s okay. The point is to begin asking. Because asking invites clarity. And clarity invites change.
Your Life Doesn’t Need to Stay on Default
Most of us are living what Mayumi calls a “default life.” It’s the path we ended up on based on what others expected of us: our families, society, even our profession. But a pattern interrupt is your chance to shift into what she calls an “invented life,” one where your career fits into your life, not the other way around.
Imagine designing your schedule based on your values. Or choosing clients that align with your long-term vision. Or creating space to be fully present with your kids, not just squeezing them in between calls.
This isn’t a fantasy. It starts with a pause and a powerful decision: I don’t want to live this way anymore.
Start With One Step
You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. In fact, most people start their journey to clarity with just one truth: “I don’t want this.”
That’s enough.
From there, you create space. You get quiet. You listen. And then you begin to build a life that feels more like yours.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to wait for burnout to make a change. You can pause now. You can reset today. You can create a life that supports you, not one that drains you.
Start with a pattern interrupt. Start with a pause. That single act of stopping might be what finally moves you forward.
Ready to create a life and career that feel aligned? Join a community of women who are doing the same at https://cpamoms.com/start.