Master the Moment:

How High Performers Respond, Not React

It’s easy to stay calm when everything’s going your way.

But, the real test? It’s when your phone lights up with a triggering message, your plans are derailed, or someone says something that cuts just a little too close.

We’ve all been there.

You read the message. Your heart races. You feel misunderstood, dismissed, even disrespected. And before you know it, you’ve typed a response at lightning speed, one that feels so satisfying in the moment… but not so great later.

I know, because I’ve done it.

Recently, someone close to me sent a message that pushed a big button of mine. It felt condescending and off track, and I instantly felt that familiar flush like I had to defend myself, prove something, set them straight. I started typing. And typing. It felt good… until I stopped.

I paused. I walked out of the room. I made a coffee. I reminded myself of one of the most important things I teach my clients:

The message you send in reaction is rarely the one you’re proud of.

But that pause... that's what saved my energy.

And not just for that day, but for the long game. It reminded me that leadership, real leadership, isn’t about saying the clever thing, or winning the moment. It’s about protecting your peace so you can show up as your highest self.

Why Do We React So Fast?

Your brain’s job is to keep you safe. And when it perceives a threat, whether it’s physical or emotional, it triggers your fight-or-flight response. That’s why you snap back, shut down, or send that message faster than you can think.

But here’s the powerful part: between the trigger and the reaction, there’s a gap. A space.

And in that space is your power to choose.

Every time you choose a response that aligns with who you want to become (not just how you feel right now), you rewrite your emotional blueprint. That’s how identity shifts. That’s how confidence is built. And, that’s what separates high performers from the reactive masses.

The Pause in Practice

This week, I want you to try something.

When you feel the urge to reply immediately…don’t, instead:

1. Step away for five minutes.

2. Say to yourself “Who do I want to be in this moment?”

3. Ask yourself, “Will this response serve or sabotage me?”

4. Breathe. Then decide with intention.

This one practice has changed my life and the lives of the clients I coach. It doesn’t mean you avoid hard conversations. It means you enter them with clarity, not chaos and, gives you the time to think things through in a way that aligns with your values.

You don’t have to react.

You don’t have to prove a point.

You don’t have to shrink, snap, or explain.

You get to pause. To lead. To protect your peace.

Because your presence matters more than their opinion.

Live a successful, purposeful and fully charged life everyday!

Your coach,

Bel

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