Gardena, CA — I was in a conversation recently where someone paused before responding.
It wasn’t awkward, and it didn’t feel forced. They just… took a moment. No rushing to reply, no trying to fill the silence, no immediate advice. Just a pause. It was small, but noticeable.And honestly, it felt different—in a good way.
It made me think about how often we move through conversations on autopilot. Someone shares something, and we’re already preparing a response—sometimes before they even finish their thought. Offering a solution. Trying to say the “right” thing… when the right thing may actually be no thing at all.
But what if the moment doesn’t need all of that right away?
That’s where this idea of “holding space” comes in. It’s a phrase that’s been showing up more lately, and while it sounds simple, it asks something a little different from us.
Not more talking. If anything… less.
Holding space is about being present without trying to take over the moment. Not rushing to fix it, not trying to wrap it up too quickly, not turning it into something it doesn’t need to be.
Just allowing it to exist for a second.
That might look like listening a little longer than usual. Or letting a pause happen without interrupting it. Or recognizing when someone doesn’t need an answer—they just need to be heard.
And if we’re being honest, that’s not always easy. We’re used to responding. To helping. To figuring things out quickly. Even in conversation, there’s this quiet pressure to contribute, to say something meaningful, to move things forward.
But sometimes, the most meaningful thing is simply being present. Not doing the most. Not saying the most. Just being there.
And in a way, that’s the same energy behind this space. When I say, “Let’s talk about it,” it’s not about having all the answers or breaking everything down perfectly.
It’s just a moment to pause. To notice something. To sit with it for a second. To maybe look at it a little differently than before.
Because not everything needs to be solved right away. Some things just need space.
And when we do hold space—for each other and for ourselves—let’s do it with intention. Let’s do it with purpose.
That, more than anything, is the goal.
About the Author:
Karen Glenn is an educator, consultant, and Executive Director of Transitions 2 Success, a nonprofit committed to closing the academic achievement gap and promoting educational equity. With a background spanning special education, intervention support, and school leadership, her work centers on trauma-informed education, dropout prevention, and the creation of pathways for student success.
