The Envisionary
About Changemaker The minimalists, Joshua & Ryan, help millions of people learn to live better…
We have many ideas and thoughts. One day we may want one thing, the next realise we didn’t at all. The Pause Technique can help us clarify and decisively act on what matters.
When we get into the flow of creative mode coming up with ideas is not the problem, but finding ourselves living in an increasingly overwhelming world filled with endless choices, information, and distractions, determining which ones to follow through on (and what we really actually want or need) can certainly lead to indecision.
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Sometimes, we find ourselves impulsively desiring something only to later realise that it wasn’t as important or necessary as we initially thought.
To address this predicament, the Pause Technique offers a practical way to evaluate our desires, distinguish between fleeting whims and genuine needs, and take intentional action when appropriate.
By incorporating intentional pauses and self-reflection into our decision-making process, we can gain clarity and make more mindful choices.
You can apply this for task-making decisions, creative problems, or just general ideas that pop into your head, such as when you make a list of things you feel you ‘have to’ do today, but maybe tomorrow you realise just how few of those things were really desired at all.
Here’s how it works:
1) The Pause Technique: The Initial Pause
The first step in employing the Pause Technique is acknowledging the value of taking a moment to pause before acting on a desire. By allowing ourselves this brief pause, we create an opportunity to reevaluate the significance of our wants and determine whether they align with our long-term goals and values.
When can you do this?
Any time you feel there’s an analysis paralysis going on, where you have too many things to do at one time, or when you aren’t completely sure whether you really need something or not (like buying those new trainers).
When a desire arises, the initial pause involves refraining from immediate action. Take note of the desire and allow yourself to step back from it.
If the desire is truly important, it should naturally reappear in your thoughts or daily life. If it doesn’t resurface, it may indicate that it was a passing fancy rather than a genuine need.
2) The Pause Technique: The Secondary Pause
If the desire or urge reoccurs, it’s time to enter the second phase of the technique.
Pause again, but this time, write it down on a note or in a journal.
Writing down the desire serves two purposes: it helps you acknowledge and validate the significance of the desire, and it allows you to release it from constantly occupying your mind.
This way, you can observe if the desire still persists after some time.
During this secondary pause, reflect on the written desire and reassess its importance and relevance.
If it doesn’t feel like it’s motivating you to do something about it now then consider letting it go and see if the desire returns at a point later on. If you don’t act on it then let your mind free from it (knowing that you always have it written down now too).
3) The Pause Technique: The Final Decision
If the desire comes back a third time then it may signify that it carries deeper significance and is worth pursuing. It’s worth giving the desire thoughtful consideration now and after which you either decide to do it or let it go for good.
There’s no room for ideas and to-do’s that are never really done. They just clog up our limited memory and focus, and so if we still aren’t taking action on it then it’s time to say to ourselves we really don’t need it.
Or, it’s time to put that desire into action.
For something simple like buying new trainers, it means just getting it done and stopping overanalysing. Done. Next.
Life is too short to procrastinate over making ‘wrong’ decisions, and as you’ve had two previous flirting encounters with a subject now your mind isn’t acting on impulse anymore. Plus, it’s far more useful for our confidence and progression to make a decision (to get in the habit of it) than to have so many indecisive ponderings keep returning to our mind.
If you’ve had a project in mind for years and it keeps coming back, then simply get down and do a bit of it. Get it started. If not, let it go. Decide. Maybe isn’t an option now.
Your mind will thank you for it, and it will be a lot easier to make a decision the more you get used to doing it.
This is why it’s a good idea to practice The Pause Technique and get used to making these decisions with smaller fry first, like whether to go to a particular shop or not, or whether to call someone or not, or to choose between wearing this shirt or that shirt etc.
And if you really can’t decide then get a dice (or use an online dice) and go by what it decides (like 1,2,3 for yes, 4,5,6 for no).
When it comes down to more detailed tasks or ideas, like deciding on whether to take a new job or to write that book or not, this may involve setting goals, seeking resources or support, and actively working towards achieving what you want.
If you still find the desire fading away or losing its urgency, it may indicate that it may not be something you genuinely need or want (but be careful to not discount something that you do want but are just nervous about getting started).
For cases where the motivation doesn’t build, it’s best to let it go and focus your energy elsewhere, redirecting your attention towards desires and goals that align more closely with your values and aspirations, and then go through the 3 step process of The Pause Technique again when required.
A key point about making decisions with The Pause Technique is to take away the ‘guilt factor’ in making the ‘wrong one’. This is often ingrained from childhood, like having a parent who kept telling you to do this or that, mistakes were wrong, expectations were high etc.
With pretty much most things we encounter in life, there’s really no wrong decision, only different choices (bar a few things which most people would morally know the difference between right or wrong anyway).
After making a decision, or completing something, be sure to reward yourself as this will subliminally add incentive for making a decision either way, not just for getting something right.
The Pause Technique provides a simple yet effective decision-making approach to clarify your desires and take intentional action. By incorporating intentional pauses, self-reflection, and the discernment of persistence, you can distinguish between passing whims and genuine needs.
This technique empowers you to pursue what truly matters to you and create a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
Remember, the key is to listen to yourself, give space for contemplation, and trust your instincts to guide you toward meaningful decisions and actions.
Check out other useful techniques from The Envisionary to boost your forward-thinking skills like adaptability and creativity, such as the opposite action technique.
