If one of your goals for the year is to stop overreacting, it is time to adopt the Holy Pause. Have you found yourself overreacting when all that was necessary was a simple, rational response? It happens to all of us because of automatic negative thoughts, also known as negativity bias. Something happens, or someone says something, and our brain determines it to be a threat; our nervous system is activated, and we overreact. This is why a pause is crucial if you want to stop overreacting. Why are you overreacting? The first step to stop overreacting is recognizing when it happens. Answer these questions: Negativity Bias (automatic negative thoughts) If any of the above are true, your brain is going to automatically think and feel something negative. We call this negativity bias. Your brain is more likely to think something negative than to think everything is fine and you are safe. In fact, 80% of your thoughts are negative. So, if you are someone who tends to overreact, realize you are not alone and there is a reason for it. However, it is not okay to accept it and not attempt to change and be better. Generational Patterns of Overreacting Perhaps you've experienced generational patterns of overreacting. Do you have family members whom you witnessed overreacting and from whom you learned this behavior? If anxiety is part of your genetic makeup or the genetic makeup of your parents or grandparents, chances are you experienced negative reactions much of your life. But as I've said before, anxiety is not an excuse for poor choices and overreacting. There is damage from overreacting. The power of a Holy Pause. If you want to change, the first step is to become aware of what is happening before overreacting. Awareness is crucial to using the Holy Pause. How is change possible? You can stop overreacting. Change is possible when you start renewing your mind. To understand where to begin to renew your mind, you must recognize that the mind is separate from your brain. Your brain is miraculously capable of changing, growing, and being retrained; we call this neuroplasticity. It is not stagnant or stuck. It is dynamic, and when you renew your mind, you gain power over your neuropathways. Scripture and renewal of the mind. In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us not to conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we renew our mind and release the negative, we can rebuild our emotional state by training the prefrontal cortex (the executive function center) to take charge rather than succumbing to the fight-or-flight response triggered by the amygdala (the fear center). Read the full shownotes and access all links. SSFI conference link Schedule a consultation discovery call today. Friend, if you are ready to take intentional action, get the root of what is causing you to overreact, discover wholeness and flourishing in your life and relationships, and heal from anxiety and past experiences, schedule a free consultation discovery call with me. Additional Free Resources Download additional resources to navigate anxiety and renew your mind through journaling and Scripture.

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