{"id":5849,"date":"2022-01-27T07:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T13:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/?p=5849"},"modified":"2022-01-23T13:01:22","modified_gmt":"2022-01-23T19:01:22","slug":"practice-the-pause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/rebuild-csbh-sit\/practice-the-pause\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to “Practice the Pause”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Learning<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no denying that we live in a busy, hectic society that rarely slows down to take a pause. It\u2019s easy to fall into the pressure \u201ctrap\u201d of trying to always be “productive” or packing your schedule too full.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, that\u2019s become the norm for far too many people. But, it can end up causing a lot of stress. That can quickly lead to feelings of anxiety or depression. It can also make you feel overwhelmed, burnt out, and not like yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s often easier said than done to \u201cslow down,\u201d one thing you can do to improve your actions each day and to find some relaxation is to \u201cpractice the pause.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, what does that mean, exactly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Practicing the Pause? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A phrase coined by Lori Deschene, founder of the Tiny Buddha website<\/a>, practice the pause means just what you think \u2013\u00a0stopping whatever you\u2019re doing, even for a moment. The pause is designed to keep you from becoming overwhelmed or just stuck on autopilot.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pause\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re too involved in something and haven\u2019t taken a break, your stress levels go higher. You\u2019re more likely to snap at someone, get distracted, or increase your risk of physical or mental health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By practicing the pause and taking a deep breath, you\u2019re giving your brain a step back, even if it\u2019s just for a moment. That can completely change the way you look and feel about something, and help you to re-focus with purpose and less stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the simplest form of pausing \u2013 stopping whatever you\u2019re doing, taking a mindful breath, and continuing. But, it\u2019s not the only way to practice the pause. There are plenty of effective techniques you can use. Try some of the following if you tend to get overwhelmed or stressed throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think Before You Answer a Question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed, it\u2019s easy to make snap judgments, or even answer questions in ways you otherwise wouldn\u2019t. If someone is talking to you and asks a question, give yourself a conscious moment to think about your answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pause. Think. Respond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even a few seconds of pondering your response might completely change what you say, and that can make a big difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak Slower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever noticed how fast people speak? You might even be guilty of it, yourself. It\u2019s a learned behavior and sometimes might feel necessary in a world that is constantly on the go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, when you opt to speak a bit slower, you\u2019re creating an atmosphere where people can fully take in your words. They will listen more closely and have an easier time understanding what you\u2019re really trying to convey. So, talking slower isn\u2019t wasting time. It\u2019s ensuring that what you\u2019re saying is being heard correctly the first time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pause Before Bad Habits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pause<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the great impacts of practicing the pause is moving on from bad habits (stress eating, smoking\/drinking, impulse shopping, being impatient, snapping at others, etc).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all have them, \u2013 things we\u2019d like to change, or things we know aren\u2019t good for us, but we have a hard time breaking away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By practicing the pause before you partake in a bad habit, you can often talk yourself out of it. Bad habits are often triggered by stress. You do something familiar and comforting to alleviate that stress, even if it\u2019s not good for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By pausing, you can focus on the underlying cause of your stress. Then you can opt to work on that cause and trigger, rather than throwing yourself into the habit.\u00a0Or you can pause to re-orient towards your larger goals (being more healthy physically, having a deeper connection to others, saving for a special trip) that your bad habit will deter you from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practicing the pause is an easy and effective way to fight back against stress and to change your actions on a daily basis. Just like the phrase says, it does take practice. But, there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t start trying it immediately. You might be surprised by how quickly you can notice a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you need more help focusing on the present? The support of an experienced counselor can help you chart a new path. I\u2019m here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know how stressful and demanding it can be to make changes in your life, but you don\u2019t have to figure it out on your own.   Some of the benefits of individual therapy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n