Invitation to pause

There’s a moment right after you start to feel an emotion and right before you take action. This moment, this little gap, is an invitation and an opportunity to pause.

Our emotions fuel our actions. Sure, sometimes we might want to take angry action, or sad action, or nervous action. But what if, instead of always reacting to how we feel (often in an effort to avoid the feeling), we paused to truly feel, and then decided what action/s to take?

It can be the difference between:

• Responding instead of reacting.
• Staying open instead of shutting down.
• Encouraging yourself instead of beating yourself up.
• Being courageous instead of hiding.
• Feeling grounded instead of out of control.
• Continuing on instead of giving up.
• Putting yourself out there instead of staying behind closed doors.

The next time a strong emotion comes up, remember this invitation, and pause without doing anything. Just feel whatever’s coming up without judging it or trying to make it go away. You’re human, and to be human is to feel all sorts of different things.

Find where the energetic vibration is in your body. Breathe into it. Notice it. Allow yourself to have this feeling without labeling it good or bad. Just let it be and experience what it’s like to feel however you’re feeling. Pause for 15 - 90 seconds to feel what’s there, THEN take action. That little break will help you show up in a way that aligns with your values, your goals, and how you ultimately want to live your life.

When life feels heavy, sad, or impossible, we often feel helpless, hopeless, and like there’s nothing we can do. But that is never true. We can always show up and contribute in some way, even if it’s small. And in order to show up for yourself, your friends, your family, your community, and the world in a way that feels good and right for you, means choosing purposeful action over emotional reactivity.

This weekend, let’s practice feeling, pausing, and then acting.
And notice what starts to happen.

Molly