Daily Question, July 19 What might change if I paused before reacting to a situation? 34 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. G.5 months agoG.A: My attitude towards the situation and an adjustment to my response. I heard recently that people who breathe consciously before responding are more moderate in their reaction and generally happier for it. 0 Reply Malag6 months agoMalagThere’s usually a strong emotion like anger or fear. In order not to react immediately (if that is appropriate) I need to ground in the now, sense what is happening in me. I find it a challenge to do this without judgement. So what can change is my relationship to the situation. 1 Reply Sanchita6 months agoSanchitaI would have had my peace of mind and wouldn’t have had spoiled my day regretting. 2 Reply Mica6 months agoMicaI might not say something I’d regret 2 Reply Kate6 months agoKateI see that my feelings might not be the only possible perspective on a situation. I can embrace empathy for others and be patient with them. 1 Reply kds6186 months agokds618If I pause before I react, I have a better grasp on my anxiety. When I think, it keeps me in control. Pausing is a great way to descalate a situation. When I don’t react right away to something someone has said, I have time to think about wether it is worth responding too. 1 Reply sunnypatti6 months agosunnypattiOh, learning to pause has been one of my greatest lessons in life! I don’t always remember to do it, but I recognize that when I do, I make wiser decisions. Not only that, I can keep my mind out of an anxious state. Pause and breathe. It really does change everything! 2 Reply Dusty Su6 months agoDusty SuI am getting this one, finally. It’s taken nearly six decades to learn how to make a pause and respond rather than react–and at times, simply not engage at all. Exhaustion and the loss of the need to rescue, solve, defend, rectify makes a big difference to the once, “fiery convictions” that drove me. I have been forced to use my emotional, mental, physical energies wisely. To think through, what is worth engaging, what is not? The pauses, of course, are not only good for me but also ......I am getting this one, finally. It’s taken nearly six decades to learn how to make a pause and respond rather than react–and at times, simply not engage at all. Exhaustion and the loss of the need to rescue, solve, defend, rectify makes a big difference to the once, “fiery convictions” that drove me. I have been forced to use my emotional, mental, physical energies wisely. To think through, what is worth engaging, what is not? The pauses, of course, are not only good for me but also …I am getting this one, finally. It’s taken nearly six decades to learn how to make a pause and respond rather than react–and at times, simply not engage at all. Exhaustion and the loss of the need to rescue, solve, defend, rectify makes a big difference to the once, “fiery convictions” that drove me. I have been forced to use my emotional, mental, physical energies wisely. To think through, what is worth engaging, what is not? The pauses, of course, are not only good for me but also the situations and people I encounter. I look at the pause as a place for loving wisdom to set a better filter. Read More2 Reply Don Jones6 months agoDon JonesIt’s about seeing. Seeing often says wait, in fact, it very often says wait! It very often says, don’t know! It looks feeble, but it is in the nature of seeing to be inactive, waiting for the answer, not in a hurry. It is a very positive thing to do, to attend. It is a kind of prayer. Praying for the answer to come clear. Sometimes one has to wait a longish time, and that is okay. 2 Reply Cathie6 months agoCathiePossibly each situation and relationship. If I would just take that moment of breath-time… 2 Reply Amy6 months agoAmyLike Kevin said down below….everything can change. The hard part comes in finding the “pause” in between our automatic reaction to triggers. THAT is the hard part. Listened to a psychotherapist talk at the beginning of this current health crisis and she talked about taking deep breaths and other things to hook into the vagus nerve that will calm the parasympathetic nervous system down. Maybe I should get the word “breathe” tattooed on my inner wrist?! :o) 3 Reply Dusty Su6 months agoDusty SuMy mantra too. Breathe….smile….breathe. Lifesaver. 3 Reply Rachelle6 months agoRachelleI’ve found that pausing often invites the other person(s) to share more because they feel that I care enough to really listen to them. 4 Reply Hot Sauce6 months agoHot SauceThe truth is, I can’t even react with anger anymore because I’ve emotionally numbed to verbal abuse. I just feel sad. The good news, however, is that I will be pursuing counseling with the people who keep hurting me. Hopefully, they will be able to change their behaviors after we talk. That way, we can all move forward, and nobody hurts anyone anymore. 3 Reply Linda6 months agoLindaThis is my lifelong challenge–to think before speaking. 4 Reply Present Moment6 months agoPresent MomentWhen I pause I usually discover one of two things… It’s generally not about me I don’t have to attend every dogfight I’m invited to 7 Reply Amy6 months agoAmyI SO needed to be reminded that it usually not about “me” and more importantly, I don’t have to join in. But, still hard to remember in the heat of the moment when I’m “triggered”. 2 Reply Linda6 months agoLindaI love this!! So true!! 3 Reply Melissa6 months agoMelissaI might respond the way that I really wanted to. 2 Reply Diana6 months agoDianaWhen I pause – I create space for the “breath”. That breath washes over the anger and creates more space for grounded thoughts and maybe even compassion and/or forgiveness. In those few moments the “breath” can literally change everything. 3 Reply Michele6 months agoMicheleReflection before reaction is a practice I am currently trying to practice. Sometimes though there is no time to pause and an immediate reaction is necessary. 2 Reply Zenith6 months agoZenithI have not yet progressed to where I am able to pause before responding. I am still just catching myself in the moment of reaction, realizing what is happening and shifting into comtroling the feeling of irritation, switching to patience and understanding. I don’t know when I will progress to pausing. I have become aware that I have instances of irritation when out in public though. So that is growth. 4 Reply Amy6 months agoAmyAwareness is the first step in changing any behavior! 2 Reply Chester6 months agoChesterIndeed the challenge is the pause – not to rush forward, not to stop, not to turn around, but to pause. 3 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb
