Be mindful of your reactions.
You’re the observer, not the thinker
Do you ever feel like your thoughts control your life? Those anxiety-inducing thoughts like, "What am I going to do in life?" or "Is that person looking at me?"
I'm sure we can all relate to that one thought and the cascade of negative ones that follow, each one causing more angst than the last. The overwhelming feelings and emotions take over our bodies, making your heart race and palms sweat.
If you’re aware of these thoughts and the effect they have, then you might also be aware that you’re the observer of these thoughts.
Life situations
Let's take a look at how we react to the world.
Imagine you’re driving along the road, the sun is shining, you have the window down, you’re blasting your favourite tunes; when all of a sudden, someone overtakes and cuts in front of you, narrowly missing your bumper.
Your reaction might be “what an asshole! who do they think they are?” you carry-on driving along, meanwhile thoughts keep popping into your head about the situation that just occurred. Your body starts to heat up and you feel the anger starting to rise inside. Your pleasant drive has dropped from a 10, to a 0, turning into a rage-fueled task.
You now seem to be getting stopped at every traffic light you come to , becoming even more frustrated. Perhaps you need to be somewhere, so you keep clock watching, thoughts arise like “you’re going to be late” and “this wouldn't have happened if that guy didn't overtake me”.
There was a time when I reacted like that, letting anger and frustration dictate my mood.
Pause before you react
It sounds so simple, but its surprising how little we actually do it.
Just as AI can only learn from information that's already available, our initial reactions come from past experiences and expectations, which have been hard wired into our brains. When something triggers us, we often fall back on these automatic responses without realising we have a choice.
But what if you paused, even for a moment? What if you became the observer of your thoughts, rather than being consumed by them?
That space between situation and reaction is powerful. In that pause, you have the opportunity to choose your response, rather than being at the mercy of your emotions. You can ask yourself, "Is this reaction helpful?" or "Am I responding from a place of clarity or stress?"
By catching your thoughts before they take control, you reclaim your power. You are no longer just reacting—you are consciously deciding how to respond. This is where mindfulness comes in. By becoming aware of your thoughts as they arise, you remind yourself that you are not your thoughts. You are the observer.
This simple pause can be the difference between letting stress take over your body or maintaining your inner calm. It’s a practice, something to build over time, but with each conscious decision, you strengthen your ability to navigate life with more awareness and less reactivity.
Practice
This isn't about perfection. It's about progress. The more you practice pausing before reacting, the more natural it becomes. You’ll find that, over time, you respond to life with more calm and clarity, rather than being ruled by stress and old habits.
So, the next time you feel that familiar rush of emotion, take a breath. Pause. Remember, you are the observer. You have the power to choose how you react.
It’s in that pause where you reclaim your peace.
What helps you pause before reacting? Share your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear your experiences.
