The Pause is your first powerful step toward finding peace in stressful moments, creating space to choose your response instead of defaulting to reaction. This practice interrupts the momentum of stress by creating a gap between trigger and response, allowing you to respond with intention rather than react automatically.

• Stress doesn't arrive politely—it barges in through everyday moments like frustrating texts, traffic jams, and difficult conversations
• Our automatic reactions to stress (snapping, shutting down, overthinking) are human, not failures of character
• The pause turns down the heat on stress, like turning off a burner when a pot boils over
• Simple pause practices include taking a breath before responding to criticism, stepping away briefly, or saying "I'll get back to you"
• Building a pause habit in easy moments makes it available during difficult times
• Pausing has a spiritual dimension—"Be still and know"—creating space to hear guidance beyond our own thinking
• This practice works whether you approach life practically or spiritually, shifting you from reaction to response

If this episode spoke to you, I'd love for you to follow and share it with someone who wants to bring more peace into their life. Visit my website at jonathan-hale.com to book some time with me. Peace is not passive, it's a practice and you're not alone on the journey.

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