"When in doubt, pause. When angry, pause. When tired, pause. When stressed, pause. And when you pause, pray."

Practicing the pause, what a concept. With our hectic schedules, it can sometimes feel like we never have a free moment to ourselves. Whether it's work, classes, practice, etc. it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed. I constantly find myself moving from one thing to the next, with little time to think of anything else. Although life can be incredibly overwhelming and hectic, one of the most important messages that I've found to help me cope is the above message about practicing the pause. This phrase is simple, yet so meaningful. Growing up, we are taught to listen to our instincts and trust in ourselves. But, when we feel unsure of ourselves, are angry, stressed, or tired, a good strategy for coping with those is to take a step back for a moment. Even if you are in the middle of a hectic day and have no free time, find a free moment to step back and pray, even if it is only for a few seconds. This strategy works if you are not religious as well. Instead of praying, take 10 seconds of reflection on what you are grateful for or what you plan on doing as soon as your hectic day is over.

Practicing the pause helps us center our focus. It allows us to look outside of ourselves for a moment and reflect and pray on what we are grateful for and asking God to give us guidance to complete the rest of our day. It's important to take a few moments for ourselves throughout the day and just breathe. Practicing the pause also allows us to think more deeply about how we will respond to outside factors that are challenging us. If we practice the pause and think more of what we are grateful for, rather than what we don't have, we can grow to further appreciate the challenges that we are facing. We can also find a way to make our days more bearable.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, try practicing the pause for a few moments and to see how it has a positive effect on your life.