I've been reflecting on how Press the Pause has impacted my life. I've been a member for some months now and the impact has been lasting. This community reminds me its ok to pause, to reflect, to stand in being but…Press the Pause is a more than a community, for me it has become a way of life. Im not perfect, I don't practice perfect - neither of these are required. Instead, I've learned how to invite myself into stillness anytime. My pause comes in the morning, upon waking. My mind used to be filled with the clutter of the day and all the to-dos. Now, like a mini retreat - I push those thoughts aside, breath, sweep my mind and smile. The pause has become a mini mind retreat that helps me start my day. Thank you everyone. Even though "all isn't perfect" in my life, today's pause allowed me time to remember to celebrate my growth, and reflect on how small steps move me forward every day. LOL, this picture perfectly emulates me and my pause. This character feels like me for the rest of the day....all up in "not pausing"

are you making decisions in the moment? often, we’re not. we’re responding from old patterns. someone says something that bothers us and we defend ourselves. someone disappoints us and we withdraw. we feel uncertain and so we try to control everything. these reactions can feel like us. but they may simply be conditioning. the first step is noticing you can’t change a pattern you don’t see. start paying attention to the moments when you react quickly. ask yourself: what just happened? what did i immediately feel? what did i want to do next? have i reacted this way before? you don’t have to judge the reaction, just be curious about it. do you say yes when you really want to say no? do you notice that criticism makes you defensive? do you notice that when you feel rejected you pull away before the other person can explain? this is where the pause raises awareness the pause creates a small space between what happens and what you do about it. someone sends you a message that irritates you? instead of responding immediately, pause. ask: am i responding to what is actually happening or am i responding to something this reminds me of? the pause gives you the chance to see the pattern before the pattern takes over. try a 10 second pause. you don’t need to meditate for an hour. try this: STOP. take one long slow breath. notice what is happening in your body. notice the thought you are having. notice the impulse. then ask: what would i choose if i wasn’t reacting automatically? sometimes you’ll still choose to speak. sometimes you’ll say no. sometimes you’ll walk away. the difference is that you’re choosing rather than repeating. start noticing your automatic moments for one week, don’t try to change yourself. just notice. notice when you: - over explain yourself - people please - become defensive - interrupt - shut down - reach for your phone - say yes when you mean no - try to control - avoid a difficult conversation - assume you know another person - criticize yourself when something doesn’t go perfectly

Do our thoughts originate inside or outside our minds?

I’m wondering if others are feeling the ways of certainty are disappearing, that old ways of doing things no longer work. The times we are living in are in divine suspension, it’s like I have no idea what the future will bring but I know I can’t be the same version to slide into the new…Thoughts?