Family bonding, Inner peace, and regular pauses in life

Susanta Giri
Sabbatical Dates: 1st October 2025 - 30th April 2026

​My sabbatical was primarily a period of rest, self-reflection, and reconnecting with my family and inner self. For many years, my routine had been deeply occupied with organizational responsibilities, field activities, meetings, and continuous engagement with community work. This sabbatical gave me an opportunity to step away from daily pressures and spend meaningful time with my loved ones.

What did you do during your sabbatical / How did you spend your time during your sabbatical? 
My sabbatical was primarily a period of rest, self-reflection, and reconnecting with my family and inner self. For many years, my routine had been deeply occupied with organizational responsibilities, field activities, meetings, and continuous engagement with community work. This sabbatical gave me an opportunity to step away from daily pressures and spend meaningful time with my loved ones.

During this period, I travelled with my family to several places across West Bengal including a few Places of Religious interest like Swaminarayan Mandir at Joka, Pailan, R.K. Mission & R K Mission Belur Math-Howrah, Kamarpukur–Jayrambati and Sarat Kuthir at Deulti, Birth Place of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar at Birshingha Village, West Medinipur along with few local Tourist Places These visits were spiritually enriching and emotionally refreshing. The peaceful environment, natural beauty, and cultural experiences helped me slow down and appreciate life beyond work commitments.

Apart from travelling, I spent time reflecting on personal life, old memories, relationships, and the journey of my professional life. I also enjoyed simple moments that are often missed during busy schedules, such as relaxed family conversations, spending quiet time alone, and reconnecting with my thoughts and emotions. Sudden illness during my Sabbatical created a problem but I took it easily and visited my doctor, taken nutritious diets with medication for a month or so with complete rest.
 
What questions /reflections emerged during your sabbatical – Could be related to personal or professional life.
The sabbatical created an important space for deep reflection. One major realization was how easily we become consumed by responsibilities and forget to care for ourselves. Working continuously in the social development sector often means prioritizing community needs above personal wellbeing.

During this break, I reflected on the importance of balancing professional dedication with personal care and emotional wellbeing.

I also thought deeply about the sustainability of leadership and organizational growth. It made me realize that effective leadership is not only about hard work but also about mental clarity, emotional balance, and the ability to delegate responsibilities. I reflected on the importance of creating second-line leadership within organizations so that responsibilities can be shared in a healthy and sustainable manner.

Personally, the sabbatical reminded me of the importance of family bonding, inner peace, and taking regular pauses in life to reflect and recharge.
 
What memory has stayed with you from your sabbatical? 
One of the strongest memories from my sabbatical is the joy of travelling and spending uninterrupted quality time with my family and relatives. Visiting peaceful spiritual places and natural surroundings created a deep sense of calmness and happiness. The moments of sitting together without worrying about work calls, deadlines, or organizational stress became very meaningful for me.
 
Another lasting memory is revisiting old thoughts and life experiences that I had not been able to reflect on for years due to hectic schedules. The sabbatical gave me emotional space to reconnect with myself and appreciate how far I have come both personally and professionally.
 
What did you struggle with during your sabbatical? 
Initially, it was difficult for me to completely disconnect from work-related thoughts and responsibilities. Being continuously engaged in community development work for many years had created a habit of constantly thinking about organizational activities, field challenges, and future planning. Even during the beginning of the sabbatical, my mind often returned to unfinished tasks and responsibilities.
 
Another challenge was learning how to slow down and simply rest without feeling guilty about not working. Over time, however, I gradually accepted that rest is not a weakness or waste of time but an essential part of personal wellbeing and long-term productivity with a refreshing heart and mind. Slowly, I learned to be more present in the moment and enjoy the experience of pause and reflection.
 
Any insights or learnings from your sabbatical that you plan to implement in your work / personal life?
The sabbatical gave me many valuable learnings. One of the most important lessons was the need to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. Continuous work without proper rest can affect both mental wellbeing and the quality of leadership. I realized that taking care of oneself is equally important for serving communities effectively and sustainably.

Going forward, I plan to create more space for personal wellbeing, family time, and self-reflection in my routine life. Professionally, I would like to focus more on delegation of responsibilities, team development, and shared leadership within the organization. This will help strengthen organizational sustainability and reduce dependency on a single individual.
I also learned the importance of slowing down occasionally to reflect, recharge, and return with renewed energy and clarity.

Do you feel a sense of rest and wellbeing post your sabbatical? If yes, in what way and if not, what was missed? 
Yes, after the sabbatical I genuinely feel a renewed sense of rest, wellbeing, and emotional balance. The experience helped me regain mental peace, clarity, and positive energy. I returned feeling calmer, more refreshed, and more focused towards both my personal life and professional responsibilities.
 
How did your colleagues and family feel about your sabbatical? 
My family members were extremely supportive and happy about my sabbatical because it allowed us to spend valuable time together after many years of busy schedules. They appreciated having more relaxed and meaningful moments as a family without the usual pressure of work commitments.

My colleagues were also supportive and understanding. They recognized the importance of rest and reflection for organizational leaders and encouraged me to take this opportunity for rejuvenation. The sabbatical also created an opportunity for team members to take additional responsibilities, which contributed positively to leadership sharing within the organization.
 
 Any feedback / areas of improvement to The Cocoon Initiative about the process? 
I sincerely appreciate The Cocoon Initiative for creating such a thoughtful and much-needed opportunity for social sector leaders. Grassroots leaders often work continuously under pressure and rarely get opportunities for personal rest and reflection. This initiative recognizes the human side of leadership and the importance of mental wellbeing.
 
The overall process was supportive, smooth, and meaningful. One possible area of improvement could be creating more opportunities for peer interaction and post-sabbatical sharing sessions where participants can exchange experiences, learnings, and reflections with one another. This could further strengthen the collective learning process among fellows.
 
What advice would your offer to anyone else planning to take a sabbatical? 
My advice to anyone planning a sabbatical would be to fully embrace the experience with openness and without guilt. A sabbatical is not about stepping away from responsibility; rather, it is an opportunity to reconnect with oneself, reflect deeply, and return with renewed energy and perspective.