I was asked after a recent talk to post the acronym “STOP.” Quoted from the Umass Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, STOP is a way to remind ourselves to take a mental break when we need one, or to schedule one a few times a day. Whenever the day is starting to feel hectic or overwhelming (or even when it is going smoothly), we can pause, take stock of where our minds have been running, let ourselves settle for a moment, and decide what we want to do next.
STOP stands for:
S – Stop what you are doing
T – Take a breath (or several)
O- Observe what you are thinking, as well as what you are feeling, both emotionally and physically
P – Proceed, choosing with intention what step to take next