Because you're only human, speaking or reacting a lot quicker than you should have probably isn't an unfamiliar occurrence to you. The slight feeling of regret. We've all been there before, spilling out words and reactions only to later find that we should have held it all in just a little bit longer. However, the past is the past, and the only thing that we can do about the regrets that have come as a result of our misjudgements and swift overreactions is steer clear of them in the future. This can be done by simply pausing our perceptions. Read on for the "Perception Pausing" method to become more mindful of your reactions!
The Perception Pausing Method
Reacting too swiftly and misjudging a situation or person happens. However, Understand this concept: perception is reality. Life is often more how we perceive its events rather than what has taken place. Because our mentality has the power to magnify, we often find false familiarity with a situation or person. For example, assuming the whole day is ruined when one thing goes wrong in the morning, meeting a person who reminds us of someone else and assuming we know their character, or even caving in to fear when predicting the worse possible outcome of the future.
I personally can attest to having spent many years operating in the realm of reacting too swiftly, "predicting" the outcome of things, and being highly judgmental of things, people, and situations I knew nothing about. I labeled it being "proactive" and "protective" under the guise of taking control of my life and situations. This mentality proved time and time again to be far from the truth, exhausting, regretful, and painful. Understand that being a control freak about every fiber of life is no way to live. It ruins relationships, interferes with divine flow, and takes the enjoyment right out of life.
Wisdom tells us to be slow to speak, while putting more care into our thoughts and actions. To pause our perceptions. Before reacting or spiraling down a mental rabbit hole of judgement about a situation, person, or event in the future, take a moment to pause. In pausing, shift your perception from a fearful one, to a loving one. Try seeing a situation from the other person's point of view, trusting, or assuring yourself that all is well. Try letting go and admitting to yourself that some things are simply out of your reach, and guess what? That's okay!
I personally can attest to having spent many years operating in the realm of reacting too swiftly, "predicting" the outcome of things, and being highly judgmental of things, people, and situations I knew nothing about. I labeled it being "proactive" and "protective" under the guise of taking control of my life and situations. This mentality proved time and time again to be far from the truth, exhausting, regretful, and painful. Understand that being a control freak about every fiber of life is no way to live. It ruins relationships, interferes with divine flow, and takes the enjoyment right out of life.
Wisdom tells us to be slow to speak, while putting more care into our thoughts and actions. To pause our perceptions. Before reacting or spiraling down a mental rabbit hole of judgement about a situation, person, or event in the future, take a moment to pause. In pausing, shift your perception from a fearful one, to a loving one. Try seeing a situation from the other person's point of view, trusting, or assuring yourself that all is well. Try letting go and admitting to yourself that some things are simply out of your reach, and guess what? That's okay!
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