The Power of Pausing: How to Make Better Decisions by Slowing Down
The Cost of Rushing Through Life
I once made a big decision on impulse. At the time, it felt urgent—like something I had to act on immediately. I convinced myself that waiting would mean missing out, or worse, that I’d be falling behind.
I was wrong.
That decision—made in a hurry, without space for reflection—turned out to be not quite right. Not catastrophic, but not ideal. And the funny thing is, I could have known that if I had just paused.
We live in a world that rewards speed. We admire quick decision-makers. We celebrate those who take action without hesitation. But in the rush to decide, act, move forward, we often lose sight of something equally important:
The wisdom that comes from stillness.
Why We Struggle to Pause
The ability to pause—before reacting, before deciding, before assuming—can be a game-changer. But most of us don’t do it.
Here’s why:
1. We equate speed with success – We admire quick reflexes and assume that fast decisions mean good decisions.
2. We fear missing out – If we don’t decide now, someone else will, and we’ll lose our opportunity.
3. We confuse busyness with progress – Doing something (anything!) feels better than sitting with uncertainty.
4. We want to avoid discomfort – Slowing down forces us to sit with emotions, questions, and doubts we’d rather ignore.
But here’s the paradox: Pausing doesn’t slow you down—it actually helps you move forward more effectively.
How to Build the Habit of Pausing
Pausing isn’t about procrastination. It’s about creating enough space between stimulus and response to make better decisions. Here’s how to practice it:
Pause Before Responding
Before reacting to an email, a text, or a frustrating comment, take a breath.
Ask: Am I responding out of emotion, or with intention?
Even a 10-second pause can shift your response from reactive to thoughtful.
Pause Before Big Decisions
Before making a major choice (career move, big purchase, relationship decision), give yourself space.
Ask: Am I making this choice because I truly want it, or because I feel pressured?
Pro tip: Sleep on it. A fresh perspective in the morning often reveals what felt urgent was actually negotiable.
Pause to Appreciate the Present
So much of life happens in autopilot mode. We move from one thing to the next without truly noticing.
Take one pause each day to look around and ask: What is beautiful about this moment?
This is how you start experiencing Gourmet Moments—the ones that might otherwise slip by unnoticed.
The Power of the Space In-Between
We often think the most important moments in life are the big decisions, the actions, the outcomes. But just as often, the real magic happens in the space in between—the moments where we pause, reflect, and allow ourselves to fully process what’s happening.
The next time you feel the pull to react, to decide, to rush—just try pausing.
You might be surprised by what you notice.
Have you ever made a decision you wish you had paused on first? Share your thoughts in the comments!
