Thoughts on Mindfulness

I've been thinking a lot about the difference between Responding and Reacting. There is an important distinction between the two. You are either in control of the situation or the situation is in control of you.

When we are faced with a challenging situation, do we react or do we respond? It can take a lot of practice to opt for the latter. Students have not practiced this skill much, so it's important for adults model this skill for them, in and out of the classroom. Allowing yourself to pause and take a breath gives your mind the time to respond.

Pause - Breathe - Respond.