In an environment of intense speed, instant communication and high stress, it's easy to react to situations emotionally and “in the moment” instead of taking the time to think them through and rein in emotions that might be spinning out of control and clouding your judgment. ‎Sometimes situations that require our patience can feel so infuriating, uncomfortable or inconvenient that we jump into action just to alleviate our internal turmoil or get it off our plate. In this era of electronic communication, people have come to expect instant responses.  In an emotionally-charged situation, don’t take the bait. More often than not, giving yourself that extra day, week or month to calm down and diagnose a situation before moving forward is all you need to stay in control, sort out what's really happening and determine the best response to the situation.

Giving yourself the gift of a pause can help you gain clarity and perspective and take control of emotions that could lead you in the wrong direction if you were to let them dictate your actions and decisions. Today, consider how you can wait for the dust to settle before you make your move.