Pause is not automatically failure
Pause when context changes, capacity is low, evidence is insufficient, privacy is unclear, risk increases, or the step is no longer responsible. The record should say why, not punish absence.
Reset changes the path, not the history
Historical Level 01/02 methods use Reset as deliberate re-entry after a break or stalled habit. DEPTH-07 keeps prior evidence intact and records the new smaller/different step instead of pretending Day 1 never happened.
Return should not carry shame messaging
Chapter 25 says the system should welcome a returning person and ask whether to continue from the previous step or start fresh. Historical HDCG later makes the same principle constitutional: no progress loss on absence.
Stop rules protect the Journey
Stop when the claim exceeds evidence, risk is high, privacy is unclear, the system does not know enough, the path requires qualified authority, or ordinary continuation would mislead or harm. Stopping is part of disciplined continuation.
Reflection
Questions to sit with
- Why am I pausing or stopping?
- What previous evidence remains valid?
- What needs to change before return?