PAUSE

May 8th, 2018

What did you do that last time someone offered a suggestion?

Did you respond immediately?

Or did you pause.

Did you consider?

Did you think.

Or

Did you simply feel. Express that. And then move on to what you were waiting to say.

The ability to pause is like a muscle in the brain. It requires training and vigilant exercise: constant use.

It’s the block of marble that is continuously growing back to the dull boring shape of a block. A masterpiece cannot be chiseled out once and expected to keep forever. It must be continuously chiseled.

A big task.

But once the hard work of moving most of the unneeded stone is done. Every day is just a small bit here and there, like sanding away the fat. Maybe after a lazy week the chisel needs to be used.

This is the ever-giving benefit of good habits.

Once they are formed?

They have their own momentum.

Friends and family might be out of touch with who you are and what you want to become, and therefore unable to give good advice. But anyone who truly listens and cares will have something useful to say.

Next time it happens. Will you have your chisel ready?

Will you pause?

It could spur a habit that changes your life.

Even if the advice is bad.