In an emotionally-charged situation, when we stop and take pause, we give the ‘executive center’ or ‘thought center’ (prefrontal cortex) the opportunity for its neurocircuitry to remain in control of the more primitive ‘alarm center’ (limbic) of the brain. Consequently, we are less likely to be reactive to the reflexive impulses (e.g. thalamus & amygdala) stimulated by our emotional brain. Taking pause can short-circuit our limbic system and help us to create and sustain observational distance from indulging and entangling in the thoughts and feelings that are subsequently arising in our field of awareness.

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