“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
The world around us is a swirling vortex of events, most of which are completely beyond our control. Yet we often find ourselves desperately trying to shape the world to our liking, it’s almost as if we think that we can grasp at the reins of a dozen wild horses and make them listen to us. This futile pursuit of control can lead to a life of constant stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. It is in these moments of turmoil that we must learn to let go, to surrender, and to discover the true source of peace within ourselves.
You can’t change what happens in the world around you, but you CAN change how you respond to what happens in the world around you.
“You see, suffering has nothing to do with events, but with one’s reaction to events. What’s happening is merely what’s happening. How you feel about it, that is another matter entirely. I have given you the tools with which to respond and react to events in a way which reduces – in fact, eliminates pain, but you have not used them.” – Neale Donald Walsch
“Do not jump into reaction mode at the first appearance of negative energy. Just breathe, and relax.” – Neale Donald Walsch
“You cannot change the outer event, so you must change the inner experience.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Just as there is constant movement, constant change, in the world around us… so too our inner world is in constant flux. Within us, thoughts and emotions are always flowing in and out like clouds in the sky, and we need to create a similar spaciousness in our response to our inner world as we’ve learned to have with the world around us.
When we master the pause, something remarkable happens: negative energy transforms into opportunities for growth. Rather than being victims of circumstance, we become conscious participants in our own experience. This doesn’t mean becoming passive or disconnected from life. Instead, it means engaging with life from a place of inner stability rather than reactive chaos. We learn to respond rather than react, to choose rather than be chosen for.
It is helpful to have a simple routine that gives us the opportunity to practice spaciousness. The ability to stop, breathe and just observe for a while… not letting our fear steer our reactions… but choosing how it is that we wish to respond.
Today’s meditation is one such simple practice, please join us and learn to master the art of the pause.
A few affirmations you help you embrace the pause:
- “I can choose how I respond to any situation.”
- “My inner peace is not dependent on external circumstances.”
- “I will pause before I respond.”
- “I will cultivate a sense of spaciousness within myself.”
- “Meditation is my refuge from the chaos of the world.”
So the next time you find yourself caught in the grip of negative energy, remember to pause, breathe, and choose a different response. By cultivating a sense of spaciousness and choosing how you respond, you can transform negative energy into opportunities for growth and transformation.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Come to your senses
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/ldV3ajMO2Ck 2025
https://youtu.be/ARFM7GygR0A 2024
https://youtu.be/Z4MISVetpng 2023
https://youtu.be/-c7BssvdQ24https://youtu.be/-c7BssvdQ24 2022
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
Write down your favourite affirmation on a sticky note and place it somewhere that you’ll be able to see it the whole day.
- “I can choose how I respond to any situation.”
- “My inner peace is not dependent on external circumstances.”
- “I will pause before I respond.”
- “I will cultivate a sense of spaciousness within myself.”
- “Meditation is my refuge from the chaos of the world.”
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
Mapping Your Inner Weather: Neale Donald Walsch mentions that our thoughts and emotions flow “like clouds in the sky.” Spend time observing your inner landscape over the past week. What patterns do you notice in your emotional responses? When do you feel most spacious and centered, and when do you feel most reactive? What triggers tend to collapse your sense of spaciousness?
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
1. Q: What exactly is meant by “the pause” and how is it different from just waiting?
A: The pause is a conscious choice to create space between an external trigger and your response. Unlike passive waiting, it’s an active practice of breathing, observing, and choosing how to respond rather than reacting automatically. It’s the moment where you reclaim your power to choose your response instead of being swept away by immediate emotions or impulses.
2. Q: How can I remember to pause when I’m in the middle of a stressful situation?
A: Start by practicing the pause during smaller, less emotionally charged moments throughout your day. This builds the neural pathway for pausing. You can also create physical or mental cues—like taking three deep breaths, placing your hand on your heart, or silently saying “pause” to yourself. The key is consistent practice during calm moments so the skill is available during storms.
3. Q: Does choosing how to respond mean I should suppress my emotions?
A: Absolutely not. The pause isn’t about suppressing emotions but about creating space to experience them fully without being controlled by them. You can feel angry, sad, or frustrated while still choosing how to respond. It’s about emotional intelligence—acknowledging what you feel while consciously deciding how to act on those feelings.
4. Q: What if pausing makes me seem weak or passive to others?
A: True strength lies in conscious choice rather than reactive behavior. When you pause, you’re not being passive—you’re being intentional. This often leads to more effective communication and better outcomes than reactive responses. People generally respect thoughtful responses more than impulsive reactions, even if they don’t immediately understand the process.
5. Q: How long should “the pause” be? Is there a right amount of time?
A: The pause can be as brief as a few seconds or as long as you need. Sometimes it’s just one conscious breath, other times you might need to step away for a few minutes or even sleep on a decision. The key is that it’s long enough for you to shift from reactive mode to responsive mode. Trust your intuition about what each situation requires.
6. Q: Can this approach work for major life crises or trauma, not just daily stress?
A: While the pause is valuable during major difficulties, serious trauma often requires additional support from mental health professionals. The pause can be part of a broader healing toolkit, but it’s not a substitute for proper therapy or medical care when dealing with significant trauma. Use it as a complement to, not a replacement for, professional support when needed.
7. Q: What if I keep forgetting to pause and find myself reacting the same old ways?
A: This is completely normal and part of the learning process. Self-compassion is crucial here. Each time you notice you’ve reacted automatically, celebrate the awareness—that’s actually progress. You can still pause after an initial reaction and choose how to proceed. Remember, you’re rewiring lifelong patterns, which takes time and patience with yourself.