REFLECTION & ACTION: To try or not to try—that is the question! A fine line can be drawn between mastery and ceaseless striving, and an even finer line between giving up and letting go. The distinction rests in action and control. Consider these four scenarios.

When you find yourself in a situation in which you have some control and you take action, you are on the road to mastery. You’ve chosen a strong direction and a fine destination.

When you keep pushing in a situation in which you have no control, you beat your head against the proverbial brick wall. Your ceaseless striving yields bruises and headaches.

In a situation in which you have control and you do nothing, you’re throwing up your hands and giving up. This action is sometimes appropriate—one can only summon the energy for so many struggles at once. However, when used as a constant pattern, you run the risk of bouncing around at the whim of the world.

When you have no control over an outcome or decision and you stop trying to push, shove and conquer, you are letting go. It’s often a wise choice in a powerless situation.

To live, think, and work effectively, exercise your influence in the areas in which you have control. Once you’ve reviewed your options and done your due diligence, then make your decision and act. That’s mastery!

Let go of the rest. You won’t help yourself or others if you continue to fret and stew about situations that are far beyond your influence and control.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:   “There’s no point in burying a hatchet if you’re going to put up a marker on the site.” – Sydney Harris

“Notice that the moment you become unhappy is usually the moment you attempt to control another person.” – Hugh Prather

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:  Here’s your final bonus resource of the summer. This download link will take you to a set of four fun and colorful 8.5″ x 11″ Pause Posters.

They are the perfect addition to your office workspace for the fall that is just around the corner. Reminders to be mindfully present and in the moment as much as possible, as often as possible. Enjoy!

READERS WRITE: Sharon H. writes: “An incident happened today and it’s 10:32 p.m. It’s still upsetting me. I realize I can’t do anything about it. The person responsible isn’t even aware of how she upset me and she doesn’t care. Who am I hurting? Me! This isn’t going to continue.”

Cheryl D. writes: “We are each exposed to many possibilities every day. Particular directions will resonate with some people and positively change their lives. Every idea isn’t for everyone. With each new idea, pause and ask yourself, ‘Will this help?’ If the answer isn’t a resounding ‘yes,’ give yourself permission let it go.”

Editor’s Footnote: Since it received such a positive response last year, once again during the months of July and August, your weekly Pause will feature nine messages from the ‘Best Of Pause’. These are readers’ favorite messages from the earliest years of the Pause e-zine.

Featuring these Pause Gems will give me a bit of a breather to regroup, research, and develop some great new material. It will also introduce our more recent subscribers to some of those early ideas. The art from the Pauseworks Studio will continue to include all new images each week.

Whether you are a long time subscriber, or new to the list, I sincerely hope you enjoy these gems. Have a wonderful summer. I’ll be back again in September with your regular Pause format featuring all new info and resources.