When in doubt, don’t

One of the best ways to avoid conflict and internal discord is to pause when in doubt.  If you find yourself wondering “Should I do this?”, “Should I say that?”, “Should I go there?”, you are in doubt!  It only takes a second to stop yourself from doing something that could cause harm to yourself or others.  This is simple, but not easy. A knee-jerk reaction to stimuli, unfortunately, is usually wrong.  Building in a pause can prevent pain and suffering for the people around you, and more importantly, for you. 

Learning to slow down and respond to life, rather than constantly reacting to life, will reduce strife and bring about sustainable contentment and peace.  When I am in doubt, if I remember to pause, I get an answer from the universe.  That answer is almost always “no”, especially when the impulse to do that particular thing or give that specific advice is strong.  When I feel an overwhelming urge to get involved in something outside my sphere of influence, it is usually a component of my ego.  It comes from a desire to make sure I am “heard” or “understood”.  When the ego is running the show, it is nearly impossible to pause. 

Spirit, on the other hand, does not need to be heard or understood.  It seeks instead to hear and understand others. That is why when I pause, the universe steps in with clarity.  Pausing gives me time to return to spirit, and spirit knows what I should do.  Most of the time, it is to do nothing.  I have learned that when I do less, God can do more. 

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor Frankl