Pause Practicing

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Are you good at taking a pause?

Sometimes my excitement for life gets me into trouble - I interrupt people, I say “yes!” too quickly, I make assumptions, I rush - it is usually coming from a place of enthusiasm, but practicing a pause is something I’ve been working on lately. 

We have all experienced the benefit of a pause. Yet, it takes some practice or else we get into auto-pilot and forget to pause.

Just a few seconds of pause:

  • Brings your mind back to where you are

  • Allows your nervous system to reset

  • Invites you to take a deep breath

  • Offers you clarity

  • Opens your mind to gain new perspective

  • Settles your emotions

  • Shows another person respect

  • Encourages thoughtfulness

  • Slows down your mind and body

Where might you need to practice a pause?

In your day? In your life? In relationships? In career? In your pace? In growth? In fear? In doubt? In a bad habit? In decision making? In stressors?

Practice one area of pause and then add another. It takes our brain a while to learn the art of pause. It requires intention and practice. Here are some ideas where you can pause to become more mindful.

Before:

  • Picking up your phone in the morning

  • Blurting out something

  • Reacting

  • Entering a room

  • Leaving a room

  • Scrolling

  • Driving your car

  • Saying yes

  • Saying no

  • Interrupting someone

  • Deciding

  • Telling your opinion

  • Sharing too much

  • Making a judgement

  • Filing a gap of silence

  • Assuming

  • Starting your next sentence

  • Evaluating 

  • Eating mindlessly

  • Buying something

Some people count to ten, you might only need a two second pause. You decide. Spend some time today exploring where you could use a pause, then take it.

In our over-informed, over-thinking, and noisy world a pause can help you find the path of peace. 

Pausing along with you today,